FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1026

                                   C 37 L 89

BYRepresentatives Spanel, R. King, S. Wilson, Haugen, Nelson, Brekke and K. Wilson; by request of  Department of Fisheries

Regulating sea urchin fishing.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington has had a sea urchin fishery since the early 1970s.  However, the number of vessels involved in the fishery has more than doubled in just the last two years (78 vessels in 1987; 203 vessels in 1988).  The catch of urchins increased from approximately 400,000 pounds in 1983 to over 8.5 million pounds in 1988.

Three species of sea urchins are identified as harvestable:  reds, greens, and purples.  Reds are the predominantly harvested species and are regulated by size, season restriction (normally October to March, although, the 1988-89 season has been shortened), and by harvest area (five districts).  Green sea urchins have no restrictions and may be harvested with permission of the director of of the Department of Fisheries. Purples are not harvested commercially.

This fishery is open to any vessel owner with a shellfish diver's license.  The urchins are harvested by divers who are not required to be licensed.  The department has adopted an emergency rule that limits the number of divers per vessel to two.

SUMMARY:

A limited entry program is established for the Washington sea urchin fishery.  After October 1, 1989, the commercial harvest of sea urchins will require a sea urchin endorsement to the shellfish diver's license.  To qualify for the endorsement, a vessel must have held a shellfish diver's license during the 1988 calendar year and must have landed a minimum of 20,000 pounds of sea urchins during the period of April 1, 1986 through March 31, 1988 which is two fishing seasons.

After the initial qualification, subsequent endorsements will be limited to those vessels that qualified during the previous season and that landed 20,000 pounds of sea urchins during a two-year period ending March 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Licenses that are not reissued due to a revocation or suspension will still be eligible to be licensed for the following season. The director may reduce or waive the 20,000 pound landing requirement upon the recommendation of a review board.  Such a recommendation is to be based on "extenuating circumstances" as defined by administrative rules adopted by the director.

Sea urchin endorsements are not transferable except on death of the owner or from parent to child, or between spouses either during marriage or upon dissolution of marriage.

When the fishing fleet has been reduced to 45 vessels, the director may issue additional endorsements by random selection.  The selection process will be established by rules adopted by the director upon recommendation of the review board.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 88   1

      Senate    43     2

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989