(1) In order to administer a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program, the department may charge a fee to holders of a Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery license to reimburse the department for the production of Puget Sound crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program.

(2) In order to administer a Washington coastal Dungeness crab pot buoy tag program, the department may charge a fee to holders of a Dungeness crab—coastal fishery license and to holders of out-of-state licenses who are issued a pot certificate by the department to reimburse the department for the production of Washington coastal crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag program.

(3) The department shall annually review the costs of crab pot buoy tag production under this section with the goal of minimizing the per tag production costs. Any savings in production costs shall be passed on to the fishers required to purchase crab pot buoy tags under this section in the form of a lower tag fee.

Finding—Intent—Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 77.08.010.

Effective date—2001 c 234: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 9, 2001]." [ 2001 c 234 § 3.]