FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2431

C 107 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Modify Dungeness crab management provisions.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Upthegrove, Cooper and Chase).

House Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, or temporary license is required for all persons 15 years of age or older to fish for or possess fish or shellfish taken for personal use from state or offshore waters. Temporary fishing licenses are issued either as a license document requiring personal identification or as a stamp. Charter boats may sell customers temporary fishing license stamps that are valid for two consecutive days.

In addition to a recreational license, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) requires fishers to report their harvest activity on catch record cards for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, and Dungeness crab. Initial catch record cards are provided free with the purchase of a license, and additional or duplicate catch record cards cost $10 each. Catch estimates generated by the catch record card system are used by the WDFW to manage fisheries. However, since a catch record card contains a variety of species, WDFW is unable to sample only Dungeness crab recreational fishers.

Summary:

A catch record card endorsed for Dungeness crab is required for Puget Sound recreational fishers to take or possess Dungeness crab. The cost of a Dungeness crab endorsement may not exceed $3, and moneys from the endorsement may only be used for sampling, monitoring, and management of Dungeness crab recreational fisheries. Catch record cards issued with affixed temporary charter stamps are not subject to the Dungeness crab endorsement fee.

The Department must evaluate the effectiveness of the Dungeness crab endorsement as a method for improving the accuracy of the catch estimate for Puget Sound Dungeness crab recreational fisheries and report its findings to the Legislature by May 15, 2006.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 76  0

Senate 47  0    (Senate amended)

House 93  0    (House concurred)

Effective: May 15, 2004