SENATE BILL REPORT

                  2SHB 1681

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

     Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, March 31, 1999

                  Ways & Means, April 5, 1999

Title:  An act relating to state purchase of privately grown trout for planting in state waters.

Brief Description:  Establishing a program to purchase and plant privately grown trout.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Buck, Grant, Sump, Schoesler, Boldt, Mastin and McMorris).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  3/31/99 [DP].

Ways & Means:  4/5/99 [DPA]

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Morton, Oke, Rossi, Snyder, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Loveland, Chair; Bauer, Vice Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Fairley, Fraser, Honeyford, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Long, McDonald, Rasmussen, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, West, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background:  Private fish farmers have provided trout to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for planting public freshwater lakes.  In 1998, large catchable trout were provided at a cost of $2 per fish.  These trout were sterile, having been genetically altered to contain three chromosomes instead of two, and thus do not spawn and continue to grow throughout their lives.

Opportunities exist for purchase of privately produced trophy trout to provide quality recreation and supplement existing department trout hatchery programs.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to purchase trophy trout from private fish farmers for increasing fishing opportunity in public waters.  Planting of privately produced trophy trout must not have an adverse impact on the wild trout population.  The Fish and Wildlife Commission may purchase privately produced fish only if the cost of the program will be recovered by the increase in license sales directly attributable to the planting of the fish.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission must identify waters appropriate for trophy trout planting, determine the appropriate numbers to be planted, and seek a statewide distribution of trophy trout fishing opportunity.

The department must report to the Legislature on the management and effectiveness of the program.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The requirement that the program be self-supporting is added.  The null and void clause is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For (Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation):  Purchasing trophy trout for planting in public waters is a program that was proven in 1998 and should be expanded in the future.

Testimony Against (Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation):  None.

Testified (Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation):  PRO:  Senator Dan Swecker; Jim Zimmerman, Washington Fish Growers Association; Bob Gibbons, WDFW; Allan Woodbridge, Western Fish and Wildlife; Frank Urabeck, NW Marine Trade Association; Diane Nelson, Colville TRB; Bill Robinson, Trout Unlimited; Barbara Lindsay, NW Sportfishing Industry Association.

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  Wildlife revenues depend on public interest in fishing.  Stocking lakes with trophy trout will encourage more people to buy fishing licenses.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  PRO:  Jim Zimmerman, Washington Fish Growers Association and Trout Lodge; Diane Nelson, Colville Tribes; Allan Woodbridge, Western Fish and Wildlife, Washington Property Rights Alliance; Brian Edie, Department of Fish and Wildlife.