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WashingtonSB 50762025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Establishing a Puget Sound nonspot shrimp pot fishery license.

Sponsored By: Ron Muzzall (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Updates to Puget Sound shrimp pot licenses

Beginning July 27, 2025, holders of the existing Puget Sound shrimp pot license may own up to two of those licenses. The second license must name the same vessel at transfer, and you cannot transfer only one for 12 months; with two licenses, you may fish and land 1.5 times the normal pots and catch limits. New issuance is limited to natural persons who held the license last year, and on death the license passes under inheritance rules. Alternate operators must be immediate family; with two doctors’ letters, a non‑family alternate can be approved for up to two years, and the board/director can allow other exceptions.

Tight cap and one-license limit for Puget Sound shrimp

Beginning July 27, 2025, the state caps the combined number of Puget Sound shrimp trawl and nonspot shrimp pot licenses at five total. No person may hold more than one of these licenses. This limits entry and prevents consolidation of fishing rights.

Changes for Puget Sound shrimp trawl licenses

Beginning July 27, 2025, a Puget Sound shrimp trawl license holder may harvest nonspot shrimp. Only a natural person who held a trawl license last year can get one, and on death it passes like property and becomes a nonspot shrimp pot license for heirs. Alternate operators must be immediate family; during a documented medical emergency, a non‑family alternate can be approved for up to two years, and the board/director can allow other exceptions. Starting August 1, 2025, you can transfer a trawl license only by converting it to a nonspot shrimp pot license; conversion permanently retires trawl rights. A converted pot license may fish only the nonspot shrimp resources that were allocated to trawl licenses, and if all trawl licenses convert, the department will review future allocations with stakeholders.

New license and fees for nonspot shrimp

Beginning July 27, 2025, commercial nonspot shrimp pot fishing in Puget Sound requires the new nonspot shrimp pot license, or an existing shrimp pot license. It is a limited‑entry license and a vessel is required. Only a natural person who held a qualifying shrimp license last year can get it, and on death it passes under inheritance rules. The annual fee is $335 for residents or $720 for nonresidents, plus a one‑time $105 application fee. You may work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to test or change pot gear by a director‑issued permit to improve harvest of listed nonspot shrimp species. The law defines “nonspot shrimp” as six named species for these rules.

Clearer fish species names in law

Beginning July 27, 2025, the law states that “Pacific sardine” and “pilchard” mean the species Sardinops sagax. This clears up which fish the rules cover.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ron Muzzall

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adrian Cortes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Liz Lovelett

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Perry Dozier

    Republican • Senate

  • Sharon Shewmake

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 145 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/22/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 118, 2025 Laws.

    4/22/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/17/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/15/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/14/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/9/2025Senate

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/9/2025Senate

  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    4/8/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/25/2025Senate

  11. AGNR - Majority; do pass.

    3/21/2025Senate

  12. AGNR - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/21/2025Senate

  13. First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

    2/24/2025Senate

  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/19/2025Senate

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/19/2025Senate

  16. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/19/2025Senate

  17. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/12/2025Senate

  18. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/3/2025Senate

  19. ANR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    1/30/2025Senate

  20. First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

    1/13/2025Senate

  21. Introduced

    1/13/2025Senate

Bill Text

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