H-2127.1                  _______________________________________________

                                             SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1612

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Morton, King, Basich, Kremen, Sheldon, Foreman, Fuhrman, Chandler and Padden)

Read first time 03/08/93.

Testing the feasibility of remote site incubators for salmon enhancement.

          AN ACT Relating to the enhancement of salmon with remote site incubators; adding new sections to chapter 75.50 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the use of salmon enhancement tools such as remote site incubators may present alternatives for salmon enhancement that could reduce disease, be compatible with wild stock goals, and allow for enhancement in small stream systems for which current enhancement techniques are infeasible.  The legislature further finds that although remote site incubators have been developed, their success has not been monitored.  It is the intent of the legislature to gauge the feasibility of this technique for salmon enhancement in the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 75.50 RCW to read as follows:

          The department shall develop and implement a pilot project in one or more watersheds to test the feasibility of remote site incubators for salmon enhancement.  The department shall evaluate, at a minimum, salmon egg survival, fry survival, and adult returns.  The department shall use volunteers to implement the pilot project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 75.50 RCW to read as follows:

          By December 31, 1993, and each year for the following four years, the department shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on the progress and final success of the remote site incubators in the pilot project established in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  If specific funding for this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1993, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.

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