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Evergreen Ledger

SSB 5076

Signed

Senate

Nonspot shrimp pot license

Establishing a Puget Sound nonspot shrimp pot fishery license.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: January 29, 2025
Last Action: April 22, 2025
Status: C 118 L 25
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill establishes a new limited-entry nonspot shrimp pot fishery in Puget Sound, allowing fishermen to harvest nonspot shrimp species (like dock shrimp and coonstripe shrimp) using pot gear. It also permits conversion of existing shrimp trawl licenses to the new pot license and tightens ownership and operational rules for all Puget Sound shrimp licenses.

  • Creates a new nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license, allowing licensed fishermen to harvest nonspot shrimp (e.g., dock shrimp, coonstripe shrimp, ocean pink shrimp) using pot gear.
  • Limits the total number of shrimp trawl-Puget Sound and nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound licenses combined to five.
  • Allows holders of existing shrimp trawl-Puget Sound licenses to convert them to nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound licenses, with the trawl license permanently retired upon conversion.
  • Sets strict ownership limits: no more than one nonspot shrimp pot license or trawl license per person, and no more than two shrimp pot licenses (for spot or nonspot) per person.
  • Expands flexibility for alternate operators: licensees may request non-family members to operate under certain medical or advisory board-approved circumstances.
  • Requires that nonspot shrimp pot license holders only fish on nonspot shrimp resources previously allocated to trawl license holders, with future allocations subject to stakeholder review.

Who is affected

  • Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishermen — Commercial fishermen currently holding or eligible for Puget Sound shrimp pot or trawl licenses, who may now apply for a new nonspot shrimp pot license or convert their trawl license to a pot license.
  • Heirs of deceased license holders — Families of deceased license holders, who can now inherit licenses as personal property under new rules.
  • Nonspot shrimp harvesters — Fishermen who rely on nonspot shrimp species (e.g., dock shrimp, coonstripe shrimp), who gain access to a dedicated pot-based fishery with gear flexibility.
  • State fishery management agencies and advisory boards — State agencies and advisory boards (e.g., Puget Sound shrimp pot/trawl advisory boards), which gain new roles in approving alternate operators and reviewing resource allocations.
Effective: July 28, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill adds a new license type (nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound) with an annual fee of $335 and an application fee of $720, contributing to state revenue. There may be minimal additional administrative costs for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage the new license type and advisory boards.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 8:29 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Potential Benefits (5)

  • The bill explicitly treats licenses as personal property for inheritance and intestacy purposes, providing legal clarity and security for families seeking to pass down fishing livelihoods—a significant protection for small-scale, multi-generational fishermen and heirs.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 4(5); Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3(2)

  • By creating a dedicated pot-based fishery for nonspot shrimp and allowing conversion of trawl licenses, the bill enables fishermen to shift from trawling (which can be ecologically disruptive and less selective) to pot gear—potentially improving sustainability, reducing bycatch, and supporting long-term viability of nonspot shrimp harvest for license holders.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1), Sec. 4(3); Sec. 3(1), Sec. 3(6)

  • The requirement that future allocations be subject to stakeholder review and that new pot license holders can only fish on previously trawl-allocated nonspot shrimp resources may encourage more equitable and ecologically informed resource management, reducing overfishing risk and supporting sustainable stock levels.

    EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(8); Sec. 3(8)

  • The gear modification provision allows license holders to adapt pot designs for specific nonspot species, potentially improving catch efficiency and economic returns—especially for smaller, less-targeted species like ocean pink shrimp—supporting niche market development and reducing pressure on spot shrimp.

    Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(9)

  • The $335 annual license fee and $720 application fee for the new nonspot shrimp pot license generate modest state revenue, which—while small—can support fishery management and enforcement, contributing to long-term resource sustainability and fair access.

    FinancialLean peopleRef: Sec. 5(h), Sec. 5(p)
Potential Concerns (5)

  • The 5-license cap and conversion-only access severely restricts entry into the fishery, limiting opportunities for new or smaller-scale fishermen to participate—effectively locking in existing license holders and reducing labor market flexibility in the commercial fishing sector.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(7); Sec. 3(8); Sec. 2(3)

  • The requirement that nonspot shrimp pot license holders only fish on resources *previously allocated to trawl license holders*—and that future allocations require stakeholder review—creates uncertainty and may disadvantage new entrants or those without existing trawl allocations, potentially reducing income stability for licensees who convert or newly enter the fishery.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(8); Sec. 3(8)

  • The ownership limits (max one trawl or one nonspot pot license per person, max two pot licenses total) and vessel co-location requirements may disproportionately impact small-scale or part-time fishermen who rely on multiple licenses or vessels to achieve economic viability, increasing operational constraints without compensatory flexibility.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3), Sec. 3(3), Sec. 4(6)

  • While the bill expands alternate operator flexibility for medical emergencies, the default restriction to immediate family only—plus the requirement for advisory board approval for non-family operators—may limit labor sharing arrangements that many small fishermen rely on, especially in rural or multi-generational operations where family labor is scarce or unavailable.

    Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(5), Sec. 3(5), Sec. 4(2)

  • The gear modification provision allows license holders to cooperatively design gear via director’s permit—but only for specific nonspot species (P. eous, P. jordani, P. dispar)—potentially excluding other species like dock shrimp (P. danae) or coonstripe shrimp (P. hypsinotus) from efficient harvest, reducing economic returns for some license holders and limiting adaptive capacity.

    Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(9)

Who Is Most Affected

Existing Puget Sound shrimp trawl license holdersMixed Impact

Existing trawl license holders gain the option to convert to pot gear with preserved access to nonspot shrimp resources, but lose the ability to use trawls—potentially increasing gear costs and operational adjustments. Those who convert may benefit from reduced bycatch and improved sustainability, but those who do not convert may face competitive disadvantage if pot harvest becomes more efficient.

Heirs of deceased license holdersPositive Impact

Heirs gain clearer inheritance rights for licenses as personal property, reducing legal uncertainty and enabling continuation of family fishing operations. However, the 5-license cap and strict ownership limits may prevent multiple heirs from inheriting multiple licenses, constraining intergenerational wealth transfer.

Nonspot shrimp harvestersPositive Impact

Nonspot shrimp harvesters gain a dedicated fishery with pot gear access and gear flexibility, improving economic viability for species previously underserved. However, the 5-license cap and allocation restrictions may limit participation to a small group, excluding newer or smaller operators.

State fishery management agencies and advisory boardsMixed Impact

State agencies gain new authority over alternate operator approvals and resource allocation reviews, enhancing regulatory oversight. Advisory boards gain formal roles, increasing stakeholder input—but also adding administrative burden and potential for delayed decisions.

New or aspiring Puget Sound commercial fishermenNegative Impact

New entrants face significant barriers due to the 5-license cap and preference for prior license holders, effectively excluding most new fishermen. This limits labor market entry and reinforces concentration among existing license holders.