FINAL BILL REPORT

SHCR 4403

BYHouse Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives K. Wilson, Haugen, Basich and P. King) 

Providing for the development of rules to permit gillnet fishing during daylight hours.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

AS PASSED LEGISLATURE

BACKGROUND:

The Fraser River Area Sockeye Panel, an international governing body, regulates commercial fishing for sockeye salmon.  Membership on the panel consists of U.S. and Canadian government fisheries management staff and commercial fishermen.  The fishing takes place in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia.

The two major gear groups, purse seiners and gillnetters, fish for sockeye salmon.  Gillnetters fish during the hours of dusk to early morning and purse seiners fish during daylight hours only.  In recent years the technology of gillnets has changed to permit successful daylight gillnetting.  The change came when monofilament gillnets were developed and their use legalized.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Fisheries is requested by the Legislature to meet with the Fraser River Area Sockeye Panel and to explore the possibility of developing rules permitting daylight gillnetting for sockeye salmon.  The rules would not alter the share of fish taken by either gillnet or purse seine fisherman.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   0

      Senate    47     1 (Senate amended)

      House 94   0 (House concurred)