BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Carole Migden, Chairwoman
749 (Leno)
Hearing Date: 8/15/05 Amended: 7/5/05
Consultant: Miriam Barcellona IngenitoPolicy Vote: NR&W 7-3
-Continued-
AB 749 (Leno)
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 749 would place a limitation on the number of
traps crab fishing vessels could use at one time, as specified,
and would authorize the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) to adopt
regulations for the crab fishery and subsequently adjust them,
as specified.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Fund
Regulations minor and absorbable SF*
Enforcement $286 $286 SF*
*Fish and Game Preservation Fund
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to
the Suspense file.
Existing law regulates the Dungeness crab fishery in order to
protect the fishery by (among other things) restricting the
number and type of vessels that may take crab, limiting the
crab-fishing season, and limiting the type of gear used on a
vessel to take crab. Existing law also establishes a Dungeness
crab review panel for the purpose of review applications for
Dungeness crab vessel permits. The provisions of existing law
limiting the number of vessels that take crab commercially from
the State's waters become inoperative on April 1, 2006.
AB 749 would extend the operative date, by six years, of the
provisions relating to Dungeness crab vessel permits and the
opening of the Dungeness crab fishery, and authorize FGC to
adopt regulations to ensure the protection of the Dungeness crab
resources, as specified. FGC estimates that it could absorb the
costs associated with new regulations in the course of its
regular commission meetings.
AB 749 would limit the number traps that may be used by a single
permitted vessel to 250 in District 10 and south within the
AB 749 (Leno)
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State until June 30, 2008. FGC would be required to review this
limit on or after March 15, 2008 and increase, decrease, or
eliminate it after June 30, 2008. AB 749 would prohibit more
than one crab permit on a single vessel. DFG estimates about
new costs of $285,920 to adequately enforce the new 250 trap
limit in District 10 during their two-to-three week Dungeness
crab fishery season. Enforcement would include large patrol
boats, four wardens dedicated to checking landings five days a
week for two weeks, and one Department of Fish and Game plane to
do aerial patrols to assist the boat patrols.
AB 749 would require FGC to adjust the crab vessel permit fee
for persons taking crab in and south of District 10, or to
establish a landing fee or vessel stamp, to cover the costs of
administering and enforcing the Dungeness crab trap limitation.
STAFF NOTES that the vessel permit fee is set in statute and not
by FGC.
Violations of the provisions of this bill would be a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment in
county jail for not more than six months, or both. A second
violation would result in permanent revocation of the Dungeness
crab permit and revocation of a commercial fishing license for a
period of not less than five years.