BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 165
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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
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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
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