55°

A bill in the Legislature would create temporary commercial fishing crew-member licenses. It is intended to open up a market for tourists interested in being a crew member on a fishing boat for a day.

Tourists already may buy crew-member licenses, but they are $60 for residents and $180 for nonresidents for a year, said Adam Berg, a staff member for bill sponsor Rep. Carl Moses, D-Unalaska. Without the licenses, they may go aboard commercial fishing vessels but can't participate.

"It's certainly something we could use here, especially ... with the tourist population that shows up in the summertime," said Roland Maw, executive director of the United Cook Inlet Drifters Association in Soldotna.

Responding to a concern from a committee member about liability, Maw said his liability insurance allows him to rotate crew members in and out for coverage purposes, so any tourists who fished with him would be covered.

In addition, tourists who purchase commercial fishing licenses would be eligible for assistance from the state Fisherman's Fund in the event of injury. The Fisherman's Fund is a "last resort" option to be tapped after other forms of insurance are exhausted. The fund comes from license revenue; 39 percent of the license price goes into it.

Maw said he has seen demand from tourists for such an experience. He said he and his son put a commercial fishing trip on eBay two years ago and received 1,200 bids in 12 hours.

"I have no doubt in my mind that this is going to be something that's needed, something the public will respond to," he said.

Boat captains would decide which activities to assign their temporary crews. Maw said he could see letting tourists bleed the fish or put them on ice in the hold.

He said the short-term licenses would also help fishermen who employ temporary crew members.

Paul Shadura, president of the Kenai Peninsula Fisherman's Association, agreed. He said he'd like to see the licenses available as soon as possible.

"We've wanted this for several years," he said.

The bill would make the change effective July 1.

• Masha Herbst can be reached at masha.herbst@juneauempire.com.