Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

SSB 5442

Brief Description:  Allowing the use of certain salmon fishing gear with an experimental fishery permit.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, Jacobsen, Morton and Oke; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife  may authorize the use of certain gear that is currently prohibited to catch salmon or steelhead when an emerging commercial fishery has been designated by the department allowing this gear.

$A person must obtain an emerging commercial fishery license and either a trial or experimental permit to utilize this new gear.

Hearing Date:  3/30/01

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background: 

The use of certain fishing gear, such as  fish traps and weirs are prohibited for the capture of salmon or steelhead.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is interested in testing fishing gear that allows for more selective harvest of salmon and steelhead.  This gear would make it easier to avoid catching, or for the live release of, fish from depressed stocks.   Some of the gear is prohibited under current statute.

Summary of Bill: 

The director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife  may authorize the use of  fish traps, fish wheels, pound nets, round haul nets, lampara nets, scow fish wheels, set nets, weirs, or other fixed appliances to catch salmon or steelhead.   A person may use this gear only when an emerging commercial fishery has been designated by the director allowing this gear and the person has obtained an emerging commercial fishery license and a trial or experimental fishery permit.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.