S-0359.1/91       _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5302

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators Snyder, Metcalf, Rasmussen, Anderson, L. Smith, Amondson, Patterson and Oke.

Read first time January 28, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.Designating salmon production as the primary mission of the department of fisheries.

     AN ACT Relating to the department of fisheries; and adding a new section to chapter 75.08 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:

     The primary mission of the department shall be the production of salmon.  The role of the department in salmon production is critical because of depletion in the salmon runs due to natural causes such as flooding, landslides and drought, and from human habitat alterations, pollution, and overfishing.

     The department shall emphasize hatchery production of salmon and natural production of salmon.

     In cases where the department is faced with budgetary cutbacks, the director shall not reduce the poundage or numbers of salmon produced.