BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 165 (Gaines) - Commercial fishing: crayfish.
Amended: June 15, 2013 Policy Vote: NR&W 9-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: July 1, 2013 Consultant: Marie Liu
This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 165 would allow commercial fishing of crayfish
in Lake Tahoe for the primary purpose of population reduction
and control of the signal crayfish.
Fiscal Impact:
One-time costs of $31,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation
Fund (special) to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW)
and the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) for CEQA costs and
regulation development.
Ongoing costs of approximately $18,000 from the Fish and
Game Preservation Fund (special) for increased enforcement
and fishery monitoring.
Background: 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.
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.
In 2011, Nevada amended its regulations to allow for the
commercial take of crayfish from the Nevada-side of the lake. At
least five businesses have received commercial crayfish permits
from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Tahoe Regional
AB 165 (Gaines)
Page 1
Planning Agency.
Section 1050 of the Fish and Game Code allows for the FGC to
establish a fee for the issuance of any license or permit,
unless explicitly prohibited statutorily. The fee must be
sufficient to recover all reasonable administrative and
implementation costs of DFW and FGC
Proposed Law: This bill would delete the prohibition on the
commercial take of crayfish from Lake Tahoe and would explicitly
allow the commercial taking for the primary purpose of
population reduction and control. The commercial taking must be
consistent with the state goals for management of invasive
species and an environmental analysis conducted by the
California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Related Legislation: AB 2504 (Gaines) in 2012 was substantially
similar to this bill. AB 2504 was placed on the inactive file on
the Assembly Floor at the author's request.
Staff Comments: Existing law now allows the FGC to establish
reasonable fees associated with the issuance of a license or
permit. Should this bill pass, the FGC could enact a commercial
crayfish permit to cover both the ongoing and one-time costs
associated with this bill. Assuming eight commercial permits are
issued, the annual permit costs would be $3,125 annually to
cover the ongoing costs. There would be an additional fee of
approximately $4,000 the first year to cover the one-time costs,
although it is possible for this cost to be spread over several
years.
Staff notes that the FGC would not be required to enact permit
fees by this bill or existing statute and could allow the
commercial take of crayfish without imposing a fee. Should there
be no permit fee established, the costs would have to be
absorbed by the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
Recommended Amendments: This bill makes a reference to the
California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency instead of the Tahoe
Regional Planning Agency. This reference should be corrected.
AB 165 (Gaines)
Page 2