BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 165 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 1, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 165 (Beth Gaines) - As Introduced: January 23, 2013 Policy Committee: Natural ResourcesVote:15-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill repeals the ban on the sale and purchase of crayfish from Lake Tahoe or the Lake Tahoe Basin and requires the Fish and Game Commission (commission) to ensure any regulations permitting the commercial taking of crayfish are consistent with the Lake Tahoe Region Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan. This bill states legislative intent that the primary purpose of taking of crayfish for commercial purposes in Lake Tahoe or in the Lake Tahoe Basin is population reduction and control of the signal crayfish, an invasive species. FISCAL EFFECT To the extent the commission decides to permit commercial crayfish fishing: 1)Minor one-time costs in the $30,000 range for the department of Fish and Wildlife to develop the CEQA document and regulatory changes necessary to establish a commercial crayfish fishery. 2)Minor on-going costs of approximately $25,000 for tracking the impact of commercial fishing on the crayfish population and increased warden patrols of Lake Tahoe. The costs are recoverable through fees on annual commercial permits. The State of Nevada currently allows commercial permits and charges $500 annually. The Department assumes that initially eight commercial fishing companies would apply for permits based on information from Nevada. AB 165 Page 2 In order to cover all commission and department costs initial permits could exceed $7,000 if the one-time CEQA compliance cost is factored in. Fees that do not recover CEQA costs but provide enough funding for the on-going costs would be a little over $3,000 per year. If the commission chose not to propose fees sufficient to cover costs, the department would have to absorb any one-time and ongoing costs that are not recovered through the fee. COMMENTS 1)Purpose and Background. The author intends to control invasive species and provide regional business opportunities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Nevada allows commercial harvesting of crayfish from Lake Tahoe. The signal crayfish is a thoroughly established nonnative species to Lake Tahoe region. The crayfish was intentionally introduced to the lake and region in the 1800s as a food source, both for people and for introduced fish species. The crayfish did well in their new home: today, there are an estimated 220 million crayfish in Lake Tahoe. Crayfish are a critical part of Lake Tahoe's ecosystem, though of questionable value. They provide food to fish species, including invasive bass. They also contribute to algae production near shore, which diminishes Lake Tahoe's clarity. Reduction of crayfish number, or their eradication, may have a significant effect on the lakes' plant and animal life and aesthetic quality. 2)Previous legislation, AB 2504 (Beth Gaines) was similar to this measure and passed off of this committee's Suspense File before being moved to the Assembly Inactive File. Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 AB 165 Page 3