Sponsor Statement for SB 7

Reducing Fees for Resident Combination Licenses
and Increasing Fees for Non-Resident
Sport Fishing Licenses and Tags

Senate Bill 7 was introduced in response to escalating misuse of Alaska's sport fish resources by non-residents who commercially harvest, process and sell sport caught fish to pay for their Alaska summer vacation. SB 7 raises non-resident sport fishing license and tag fees to levels more consistent with similar fees in other states and creates a tool for enforcement officers to more easily trace those non-residents who abuse our sport fish resources.

Specifically, SB 7 creates a non-resident seven day king salmon license for $40, and increases non-resident 3 and 14 day sport fishing license fees to $20 and $60, respectively. The bill creates a seven day nonresident anadromous king salmon tag for $40 and increases the respective three and 14 day tag fees to $20 and $60.

SB 7 repeals the $50 non-resident annual sport fish license, and thereby repeals the annual combination annual sport fish/sport hunt license. By repealing the annual non-resident sport fish licenses, the Department of Fish & Game will have a tool to help identify non-residents who abuse Alaska's sport fish resources throughout the fishing season. The Department will be able to more easily trace non-residents who continually purchase 14 day licenses.

In addition, SB 7 reduces the cost of the three types of resident combination licenses. Currently, the cost for combination licenses for residents are exactly the same, whether each license is purchased individually, or as a combination. SB 7 reduces hunting and trapping, hunting and sport fishing, and hunting, trapping and sport fishing licenses by $5, creating an incentive for residents to purchase combination licenses. Purchasing combination licenses will save the State approximately $2 in fees per combination license sold, thereby mitigating any loss of revenue, and will result in less paperwork for the Department to process.

A provision is added to allow non-residents who have lived in Alaska for the preceding 6 consecutive months and who have maintained a voting residence to receive a king salmon license and an anadromous king salmon tag, valid for 6 months, or until the end of a calendar year, whichever is less, for $60 each.

If you have further questions, please contact Karen Brand of my staff at (907) 465-3892.

DD/kb 1/24/97