SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5288

BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf, Vognild, Craswell, Benitz, Barr and Amondson)

Providing for the production of salmon smolts by private aquaculturists.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5288 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson.

Senate Staff:Ross Antipa (786-7413)

                  April 13, 1989

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 22, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Fisheries does not utilize private aquaculturists to assist the department in the production of salmon to plant in public waters.  Fishermen's cooperatives are currently not monetarily compensated for salmon they produce to stock public waters.  The aquaculture industry and fishermen's cooperatives could assist the state in achieving its salmon restoration goals by providing privately produced salmon, under a contract, at a reasonable cost.

SUMMARY:

The director of Fisheries may contract with the private salmon aquaculture industry or with fishermen's cooperatives to produce salmon smolts for release into public waters.  State salmon hatcheries, which are at less than 50 percent of full production capacity, will be available to private contractors or to fishermen's cooperatives for the purposes of producing salmon to stock public waters.  The director shall give preference to nonprofit corporations in the awarding of leases to state salmon culture facilities.  The department shall provide eggs to private contractors at a higher priority if the resultant fish are to stock public waters.  Budget requests are to be made to the Legislature by the department in order to carry out the private contracting program.  The Salmon Advisory Council shall review each contract and advise the director.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 18, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: Toimi Maki, Grays Harbor Gillnetters (pro); Bob Lake, Willapa Bay Gillnetters (pro); Ed Manary, Fisheries Department (con); Gene Deschamps, Chehalis Indian Tribe (pro); Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The director of Fisheries may contract for rearing of salmon smolts if all department facilities are operating at full capacity.  The director shall provide information on the cost of operating all state-funded hatcheries at full capacity with the department's budget request.