BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           825 (Blakeslee)
          
          Hearing Date:  06/29/2009           Amended: 05/04/2009
          Consultant:  Brendan McCarthy   Policy Vote: NR&W 11-0
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          BILL SUMMARY: This bill allows the incidental take of Dungeness  
          crab with rock crab traps and vice versa. The bill also repeals  
          an existing prohibition on possessing both species aboard the  
          same vessel at the same time.
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                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2009-10      2010-11       2011-12     Fund
           
          Fish and Game enforcement         $50         $100       
          $100Special *                                           
          * Fish and Game Preservation Fund
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          STAFF COMMENTS: 
          
          Under current law, fishermen are not allowed to take rock crab  
          with Dungeness crab traps and vice versa. If a one type of crab  
          is taken with a trap intended for the other type, the crab must  
          be returned to the ocean. In addition, current law prohibits an  
          individual from possessing Dungeness crab on a vessel used to  
          fish for rock crab, and vice versa. Dungeness crab may be taken  
          only during specified seasons, while rock crab may be taken year  
          round.

          This bill would allow the incidental take of rock crab with  
          Dungeness crab traps and vice versa, provided that the  
          incidental take occurs in season for that species. The bill also  
          repeals the prohibition on having both rock and Dungeness crab  
          aboard the same vessel at the same time.

          Because the bill would allow fisherman to possess both types of  
          crab at the same time, the Department of Fish and Game  
          anticipates additional enforcement workload to ensure statutory  
          requirements are met. Specifically, the department is concerned  










          that some individuals may use the provisions of this bill to  
          game the existing fishery rules. For example, an individual  
          could set rock crab traps before the opening of Dungeness crab  
          season, with the intention of landing Dungeness crab. This would  
          give such a fisherman an advantage over Dungeness crab fishermen  
          that wait until the opening of Dungeness crab season to set  
          their traps. In order to prevent individuals from gaming the  
          rules, the department anticipates it will have to perform  
          additional patrols and inspections to ensure compliance with  
          existing rules governing the take of Dungeness crab.