BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2013-2014 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: SB 197 HEARING DATE: April 9, 2013
AUTHOR: Evans URGENCY: No
VERSION: As introduced CONSULTANT: Leonardo Scherer
Alves
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Commercial fishing: commercial fishing salmon stamp
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
Existing law requires persons to purchase a commercial fishing
license in order to take salmon for commercial purposes. The
Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) requires a
commercial fishing stamp affixed to the commercial fishing
license. The stamp is issued upon application and payment of a
base fee of $85. The fee is adjusted depending on the amount of
salmon landed in the previous year, but may not exceed $260;
salmon landings in the state that exceed 3,000,000 pounds
dressed weight shall cause the fee to be increased by $12.50 for
every 250,000 pounds, but not exceeding the cap of $260. Since
2010 the license fee has been at its base price of $85.
After deducting the administrative costs for issuing the
commercial fishing salmon stamps, which may not account for more
than 15% of the funds, the department shall deposit the fees in
the commercial salmon stamp account in the fish and game
preservation fund. The money in the account is available to the
department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for new or
expanded salmon restoration and enhancement programs in the
state that will serve to increase ocean salmon landings. The
money in this account may not be used in lieu of other funds
appropriated for salmon restoration and enhancement programs.
The current commercial stamp sunsets on January 1, 2014.
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PROPOSED LAW
This bill would extend the sunset date of the commercial salmon
stamp to January 1, 2019.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
This program is a result of 30 years of legislation sponsored by
commercial fishermen who believe this funding initiative
promotes an improvement in salmon stock and salmon catch.
According to the sponsor, this program is important for both
California's fishermen and the environment.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION None received
COMMENTS
Why another sunset extension if the program seems to be working
since 1978?
It seems that this is a mature program where the parties
involved are satisfied with the current legislation.
In the last sunset extension (SB 470 Evans), the commercial
salmon stamp was in the process of being updated. Conversations
between the Department of Fish and Game and stakeholders were
underway. This bill does not address any aspects of the program
other than the sunset extension.
SUPPORT
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association (Sponsor)
California Salmon Council
Humboldt Fishermen's Marketing Association, Inc
OPPOSITION
None Received
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