H-2079.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 2159

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Morris and R. King.

 

Read first time March 4, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife.Affecting fisheries that target sturgeon.


     AN ACT Relating to sturgeon; adding new sections to chapter 75.12 RCW; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that the sturgeon fishery is declining and that limiting the commercial and recreational harvest of and preventing the sale of sturgeon may improve the status of this fishery in state waters.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 75.12 RCW to read as follows:

     Until the director has established that sturgeon populations are increasing significantly, the director shall eliminate in state waters all commercial fisheries that target sturgeon.  It shall be unlawful to sell any sturgeon taken incidentally to a lawful commercial target fishery for another species.  Once the director makes a determination that sturgeon populations are increasing, the director shall designate the sturgeon fishery as an emerging commercial fishery under RCW 75.30.220.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 75.12 RCW to read as follows:

     The director shall examine the effect of the recreational fishery on sturgeon populations and shall make adjustments in recreational harvest if necessary to increase sturgeon populations.