S-3517               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6247

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Metcalf, Owen and Rasmussen

Read first time 1/15/88 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to herring; and adding a new section to chapter 75.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.12 RCW to read as follows:

          To insure the high productivity of the salmon fisheries and bottomfish fisheries of the state, it is imperative that the herring, which are the single most important food supply of these fishes, be protected.  The legislature finds that the complete prohibition of collecting herring spawn is in the best interest of the state.  The director shall prohibit the taking of fertilized herring spawn by any commercial fishery.