S.B. 769 (S-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY - COMMERCIAL FISHING FEES

Senate Bill 769 (S-1)

Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr.

Committee: Appropriations

Date Completed: 11-04-97

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 473 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to establish commercial fishing permits and fees, and increase commercial fishing license fees, based on the type of gear, fish, and vessels used. The Department of Natural Resources would be prohibited from issuing licenses for which the required fees had not been paid.

License and Permit Fees

The Department currently charges $16 per license for lake trout sport trolling for hire, and $3 per foot, $1 per ton (over 10 gross tons) per license for all other commercial fishing. This bill would maintain these fees, and would authorize additional license fees for commercial fishing based on the type of net or hooks, and the location fished. The fee for inactive licenses would not be affected. It also would establish a new "commercial fishing permit" and related fees.

Current law establishes the minimum total license fee per resident at $50, with a $200 maximum. The bill would increase the minimum license fee to $100 and remove the maximum. The total minimum license fees, including the new fees based on type of net or hooks, and location fished, would be $250 per year. The minimum permit per year would be $100.

Current law authorizes a $5 fee to operate a wholesale fish market. The bill would increase this fee to $500, with the exception of fish cleaning stations that process fish eggs which would be charged a $25 fee.

Current law authorizes a $1 fee to transfer or replace the license, if lost. Under the bill, the fee would be increased to $25 and also would apply to transferred or replaced permits.

These license and permit fees would be repealed in five years after the bill was enacted.

Other Provisions

Unless the Department approved a change, the bill would restrict license renewal from year to year to only the type and amount of nets and set hooks licensed in the previous year.

The bill would delete the requirement that the funds obtained by the Department for sales of spawn and ripe and unripe fish be used exclusively toward defraying the expenses incurred in taking the fish, and fertilizing and planting the spawn from the fish.

The bill also would delete reference to the size of boat, type of net, fishing under ice, or number of crew in assessing the $16 annual license fee for lake trout sport trolling for hire.

FISCAL IMPACT

According to Department of Natural Resources estimates, the bill is anticipated to generate approximately $110,000 in additional annual revenue to the Game and Fish Protection Fund.

As noted below, the Department currently obtains $16,554 in revenue from license fees. The bill would increase this total amount to $126,000. The DNR estimates that they spend $130,000 to enforce the commerical fishing program in the Fisheries Division, and $248,000 in the Law Enforcement Division. This is funded with $200 in "commercial fishing revenue", and the remainder from the Game and Fish Protection Fund.

MCL 324.47315 et al. - Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler

S9798\S769SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.