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SB 5076

Establishing a Puget Sound nonspot shrimp pot fishery license.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chapman and 5 co-sponsors

Creates a limited-entry Puget Sound non-spot shrimp pot license, allows trawl licenses to convert or transfer to pots, with inheritance conversion and allocation review.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 5076

Summary — SB 5076 (Chapter 118, 2025 Laws)

Establishing a Puget Sound nonspot shrimp pot fishery license

Effective date: July 27, 2025 (signed by Governor April 22, 2025)

Purpose

Create a limited-entry commercial “non-spot shrimp pot — Puget Sound” license to provide a pathway for shrimp trawl license holders to transition to pot gear, with rules for conversion, transfer, and operation intended to support a pot-based fishery for a multi‑species “non-spot shrimp” complex.

Key provisions

  • New license: Creates a limited-entry non-spot shrimp pot–Puget Sound commercial fishing license (for pandalid “non-spot” shrimp: dock, coonstripe, humpy, ocean pink, pink, and side stripe shrimp).
  • Eligibility: A non-spot shrimp pot license may be issued only to a natural person who held, during the previous licensing year, either a shrimp trawl–Puget Sound license or a non‑spot shrimp pot–Puget Sound license.
  • License limits and fees:
    • Combined total number of shrimp trawl licenses and non-spot shrimp pot licenses is limited to five.
    • A person may hold no more than one shrimp trawl OR one non-spot shrimp pot license (note: separate existing provisions allow up to two spot shrimp pot licenses under RCW as amended).
    • Fees: $335 annual (resident), $720 annual (nonresident), $105 application.
  • Conversion and transfer:
    • A shrimp trawl licensee may permanently convert (retire) their trawl license to a non-spot shrimp pot license.
    • Upon the death of a shrimp trawl license holder, the trawl license is converted to a non-spot shrimp pot license for inheritance/intestacy purposes.
    • Beginning August 1, 2025, shrimp trawl licenses are only transferable if converted to a non-spot shrimp pot license at the time of transfer.
  • Harvest allocation and review:
    • Converted non-spot pot licenses may only harvest the non-spot shrimp resources previously allocated to shrimp trawl license holders.
    • If all trawl licenses convert, WDFW must work with stakeholders to review non-spot shrimp allocations and recommend future allocations.
  • Alternate operators:
    • Holders of non-spot shrimp pot, spot shrimp pot, or shrimp trawl licenses may designate an immediate family member or an immediate family member of the licensee’s spouse as an alternate operator.
    • Non-family alternates may be designated upon request and advisory‑board recommendation (also medical emergency exceptions exist).
  • Gear development:
    • Non-spot shrimp pot license holders may cooperatively work with WDFW to modify and design pot gear to efficiently harvest pink, ocean pink, and side stripe shrimp.

Who is affected

  • Current shrimp trawl–Puget Sound license holders (path to convert; limits on transfer and inheritance).
  • Current shrimp pot license holders (rules clarifying alternate operators; potential competition concerns).
  • WDFW and fishery advisory boards (implementation, gear development, allocation reviews).
  • Commercial shrimp industry and related markets in Puget Sound.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • No appropriation specified; fiscal note available.
  • Passed both chambers unanimously (Senate Feb 19; House April 9, 2025). Governor signed April 22, 2025; effective July 27, 2025.

Stakeholder views (summary of testimony)

  • Supporters: Viewed as a collaborative, conservation‑minded shift toward more selective pot gear with less bycatch and habitat disturbance; some trawl license holders interested in converting.
  • Opponents: Raised concerns about language/loopholes, differences in product/market between trawl and pot shrimp, potential competition impacts, and desire for additional research before changing transfer/inheritance rules.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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