FISHING LICENSES AND POSSESSION LIMITS

House Bill 5481

Sponsor:  Rep. Goeff Hansen

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

House Bill 5564

Sponsor:  Rep. Dave Hildenbrand

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Complete to 11-3-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5481 AS INTRODUCED 9-29-09 AND HOUSE BILL 5564 AS INTRODUCED 10-20-09

The bills would amend fishing license provisions found in Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing -- HB 5481) and Part 487 (Sport Fishing -- HB 5564) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to do the following:

·                    Add lake sturgeon, lake herring, amphibians, reptiles, and crustaceans to the list of aquatic species that may not be taken by someone with a restricted fishing license, rather than an all-species license.  (Presently, the fish that can't be taken with a restricted license are trout and salmon.  The fee for a restricted fishing license would remain at the current level of $15 for residents, $34 for nonresidents.)  (HB 5481)

·                    Allow, beginning in 2010, 72-hour fishing licenses to be sold, in addition to 24-hour licenses. (The fee for a 24-hour fishing license would stay at the current level of $7 for both residents and nonresidents (except for senior citizens), and $3 for senior citizens.  The fee for the 72-hour license would be $21 (except for senior citizens) and $9 for senior citizens.)  (HB 5481)

·                    Take most fish possession limits out of Parts 435 and 487[1] (except that the limit on largemouth or smallmouth bass, pike-perch, and northern pike would remain in Part 435). Persons would instead be prohibited from exceeding possession limits and aggregate possession limits, if any, set by orders issued under NREPA for the place where the fish were taken.  (HBs 5481 and 5564)

·                    Specify that any possession limit that applies where the fish were caught also applies while the person is en route from the place where the fish were caught to his or her automobile (or other means of land transportation) or to his or her residence or temporary place of lodging.  (HBs 5481 and 5564)

·                    Allow a person to possess two days' worth (HB 5481) or one day's worth (HB 5564) of processed fish (in addition to the daily limit) if (1) canned in a sealed container; (2) cured by smoking or drying; or (3) frozen in a solid state.  For this purpose, a person's processed fish aboard a vessel, on the water, or at dockside would be considered to be in the person's possession. 

·                    Change the term "take" (or similar words) to "take or possess" in several places.  (HB 5481)

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5481

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the amount of revenue collected from fishing licenses by the Department of Natural Resources.  The amount of fiscal impact would depend upon the number of new 72-hour fishing licenses sold and any changes to the number of other types of licenses sold. 

Revenue from the sale of fishing licenses is deposited into the Game and Fish Fund which provides financial support for statewide hunting and fishing programs.  In FY 2008-09, the Game and Fish Protection Fund received $18.7 million from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses.

The bill provides for the sale of a new 72-hour all species license.  The current price for a 24-hour all species license is $7.00 for residents and nonresidents ($3.00 for seniors).  Over the past five years, there has been an average of 42,000 resident and 169,000 nonresident daily fishing licenses sold each year (not including charter boat sales). 

The current price for an all species annual fishing license is $28.00 for residents ($11.20 for seniors) and $42.00 for nonresidents.  Over the past five years, there has been an average of approximately 371,000 resident and 32,000 nonresident all species fishing licenses sold.

House Bill 5564

The bill would allow an individual to possess one additional day's worth of processed fish if canned, cured, or frozen.   The bill does not change the license fee schedule and would have no significant fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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