Bill > SB6020

This bill establishes a new Puget Sound nonspot shrimp pot fishery license. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "nonspot shrimp" as a species complex including dock shrimp, coonstripe shrimp, humpy shrimp, ocean pink shrimp, pink shrimp, and side stripe shrimp. 2. Allowing holders of the new nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license to harvest these nonspot shrimp species in Puget Sound waters. 3. Limiting the total number of shrimp trawl-Puget Sound and nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound licenses to five licenses combined. 4. Allowing shrimp trawl-Puget Sound license holders to convert their license to the new nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound license, which would permanently retire the trawl license. 5. Providing flexibility for nonspot shrimp pot license holders to work with the department to modify and design gear to efficiently and economically harvest the nonspot shrimp species. The bill aims to establish a new limited entry commercial fishery for nonspot shrimp in Puget Sound, with provisions to manage the number of licenses and balance the needs of different gear types.