SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5198

                    AS OF JANUARY 19, 1993

Brief Description:  Protecting wild salmon.

SPONSORS: Senators Sutherland, Owen and Bauer

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Hearing Dates: January 29, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Many wild salmon runs are in jeopardy.  They are currently harvested in mixed stock fisheries because they cannot be distinguished from salmon that are from healthy runs, such as hatchery produced salmon.

If hatchery salmon stocks could be marked with an easily seen external mark, then they could be retained in mixed stock fisheries while wild salmon could be released unharmed.

SUMMARY:

Beginning January 1, 1995 all hatchery produced coho and chinook salmon shall be marked in an easily observable conspicuous manner.  Beginning January 1, 1998 it shall be unlawful to harvest a wild chinook salmon, a wild coho salmon or any other salmon species listed as threatened or endangered in marine waters of the state, the Pacific Ocean, and the mainstem Columbia River.

The Department of Fisheries shall not reduce the production of hatchery produced coho and chinook salmon below the production level on the effective date of this act.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 19, 1993