The economic health of certain communities and regions of Western Alaska have been jeopardized by unprecedented low salmon returns and prices. These low returns have particularly impacted commercial salmon fishermen in those regions. It is in the best interest of the State of Alaska and these communities to maximize options available to those fishermen to earn a living. One option available is to allow the purchase of one-day commercial fishing crewmember licenses. This would allow visitors an affordable way to engage in a sort of extreme tourism adventure by actually participating in the fishery as a crewmember.

Currently, tourists can go out with a commercial boat but cannot have any form of active participation without buying a full year crewmember license.

The House Fisheries Committee changed the bill as follows: It added a 3-day license option for $50. This addition also made necessary a title change to cover the multiple licenses. Section 5 of the original bill was deleted at the request of the Dept. of Labor. Short-term license holders would now qualify for the Fishermen's Fund. An effective date of July 1, 2004 was added, and a section allowing the Dept. of Fish & Game to collect an additional $3 administrative fee for licenses issued in 2004 was added.

BILL SECTIONS 1-2: Changes the term from a "crewmember fishing license" to an "annual crewmember fishing license". (Note: The reason for the term change applies to Bill Section 4.)

BILL SECTION 3: Allows residents and non-residents to purchase a one-day commercial fishing crewmember license for $30 or a three-day license for $50.

BILL SECTION 4: Assures that a short-term license holder is not considered a fisherman eligible for the Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan Fund.

BILL SECTION 5: Allows the Department of Fish & Game to add and collect an additional administrative fee of $3 on licenses issued in 2004.

BILL SECTION 6: Makes the effective date July 1, 2004.