Legislature(1999 - 2000)
2000-02-09 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2000-02-09 Senate Journal Page 2238 SB 258 SENATE BILL NO. 258 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: An Act relating to registration for commercial set gillnet fishing sites; relating to leases for shore fisheries development; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. Zero fiscal notes published today from Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish and Game. Governors transmittal letter dated February 8: Dear President Pearce: The current land leasing program for commercial set gillnet fishing sites carries considerable cost for the Department of Natural Resources (department). In meeting restraints caused by recent budget cuts, this bill I transmit today replaces the shore fisheries leasing program with a self-executing registration system. 2000-02-09 Senate Journal Page 2239 SB 258 A registrant is entitled to a revocable, noncompensable use privilege for the site, with priority over other commercial set gillnet fishers who have not registered that site. The department would provide a system for recording site registration, but would not evaluate individual registrations or resolve conflicts between registrants regarding the priority of their use privileges for a particular site. Instead, conflicts would be resolved by the courts or by any other lawful means. The bill provides for a transition from the existing lease program to the registration system. To register a site, a person must hold a valid salmon set gillnet limited entry permit for the fishery, mark the site with the fisher's name and limited entry permit number, submit a completed form with precise coordinates of the location of the fishing net, and pay a registration fee to be established by the department. When more than one valid registration is filed for a particular site during its first three years of registration, priority use would be determined by: Length of time each registrant has been set gillnet fishing in the area; Proximity of the registrant's past fishing sites to the registered sites, and; Present ability of the registrants to use the site to its maximum potential for commercial set gillnet fishing. The department would retain authority to process and issue leases for shore fisheries lease applications accepted and filed before the effective date of the Act. Existing shore fisheries lessees could register the site under the new system before the expiration of their lease. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor