FINAL BILL REPORT

                  2SSB 5157

                          C 372 L 95

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for conspicuous external marking of hatchery produced chinook salmon and coho salmon.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Drew, Sutherland, Hargrove, Oke and Haugen).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Natural Resources

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Protection of endangered salmon species is a primary tenet of modern fishery management.  Mixed stock salmon fisheries will harvest hatchery origin salmon, which can tolerate a high harvest rate, and natural origin (sometimes endangered) salmon, which cannot withstand a high harvest rate, in an indiscriminate manner.

If hatchery origin salmon could be easily identified by marking, then mixed stock fisheries could be conducted in such a manner as to allow harvest of hatchery origin salmon, and release of unmarked salmon of naturally spawning origin.

Summary:  Coho salmon and chinook salmon produced in salmon hatcheries are marked for the purpose of identification in mixed stock fisheries.  Tuna, mackerel and jack are exempt from the landing tax.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    43 1

House     95 0 (House amended)

Senate        (Senate refused to concur)

House     94 0 (House amended)

Senate    46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995