BILL ANALYSIS
SB 778
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 1, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
SB 778 (Wiggins) - As Amended: April 2, 2009
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 11-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill increases the annual fee for a commercial salmon
fishing stamp from a sliding scale fee ranging from $85 to $260
to a flat fee of $350. The bill also declares the Legislature's
intent to request the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to
provide an accounting for funds generated from commercial salmon
fishing permits.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Ongoing revenue, potentially in the tens of thousands of
dollars, resulting from increased cost of stamp fee.
2)Minor, absorbable costs to DFG to change the salmon stamp fee
amount.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author notes the dire condition of the state's
salmon population and related economic harm to the state's
salmon fishermen. The author contends that this bill, which
enacts a fee increase supported by the state's major
commercial salmon fishing association, will provide more
resources to DFG for the management and restoration of salmon
populations. The author further contends that the bill, which
calls upon DFG to provide an accounting of funds generated
from commercial salmon fishing permits, will lead to better
and more transparent management of commercial salmon stamp
funds.
2)Background .
SB 778
Page 2
a) Commercial Salmon Stamps. The state, oftentimes with
the support of affected hunters and anglers, levies
"stamps" on the hunting or fishing of certain wildlife
species is in addition to a general hunting or fishing
license. Stamp fee revenues generally benefit the species
for which the stamp was sold.
The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, in
1978, sponsored the bill that created the Commercial Salmon
Trollers Enhancement and Restoration Program and required
the purchase of the salmon stamp, which, at the time, cost
$30 more than a basic commercial fishing license. Today,
the stamp is capped at $260. The funding is allocated to
projects recommended by the Commercial Salmon Trollers
Advisory Committee. The association states that the stamp
program has been invaluable for California's salmon fishery
by funding hatchery programs and habitat restoration, and
by leveraging other funds for salmon restoration.
b) California Fishing Ban. In 2008, the Pacific Fishery
Management Council banned commercial salmon fishing off the
coast of California and much of Oregon in response to a
dramatic decline in fishing stocks. Some estimates put the
resulting loss in economic activity at $255 million and
2,263 jobs. In April of this year, the council extended
the ban for the 2009 fishing season. (The Pacific Fishery
Management Council is one of eight regional fishery
management councils established by federal law for the
purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore.)
3)Support. The sponsors of this bill-the Pacific Coast
Federation of Fishermen's Association-are highly concerned
about the extremely poor condition of the state's fish stocks
and the consequent regulatory actions that follow, such as the
ban on commercial salmon fishing in California. The sponsor
contends this bill will increase the resources available to
protect and restore the state's salmon stock and will lead to
better management of the funds generated from commercial
salmon stamp sales.
There is no opposition registered against this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081