BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 825
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 20, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                    AB 825 (Blakeslee) - As Amended:  May 4, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              WPW  Vote:12-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows the incidental take of rock crab with Dungeness  
          crab traps, and vice versa, provided that the crab taken  
          incidentally is taken in season and in compliance with all other  
          applicable law and regulations, and repeals the prohibition on  
          possession of both species aboard the same vessel at the same  
          time.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Ongoing annual costs to the Department of Fish and Game of  
          approximately $100,000 to perform additional shoreline and boat  
          inspections. (Fish and Game Preservation Fund)

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   The author contends existing prohibitions of  
            concurrently possessing rock crab and Dungeness crab add to  
            the expenses of commercial crab fishermen, who must make  
            multiple trips to load and unload catches of both species.  In  
            addition, valuable catches that otherwise conform to legal  
            specifications for sex, size and season must be thrown back.   
            The author believes this bill would provide relief to  
            California's beleaguered commercial fishermen while meeting  
            existing regulations concerning crab takes.

           2)Background.   Existing law requires any rock crab taken with a  
            Dungeness crab trap, and any Dungeness crab taken with a rock  
            crab trap, be immediately returned to the waters.  In  
            addition, no person may possess a rock crab aboard a vessel  
            that is being used to take Dungeness crab; and no person may  
            possess a Dungeness crab aboard a vessel being used to take  








                                                                  AB 825
                                                                  Page  2

            rock crab.  Rock crab can be taken at any time, whereas  
            Dungeness crab is subject to seasonal restrictions.  Both  
            species of crab are subject to restrictions related to minimum  
            size, sex, season, trap size, and permit requirements.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081