HB 1023 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish different types of commercial marine licenses, including commercial marine vessel licenses, fishery and gear-specific licenses, and full-time and part-time licenses.

• Allows the department to exempt persons taking marine life under a valid commercial marine vessel license from individual license requirements through administrative rules.

• Requires all persons providing fishing charter or guide services, whether vessel-based or shore-based, to obtain a commercial marine license.

• Enables the department to distinguish between full-time commercial fishers (deriving more than 50% of annual gross income from marine life) and part-time fishers, with different fee and catch limit structures to be established through rulemaking.

• Takes effect upon approval.