S-1268               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5845

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Bailey, Metcalf, DeJarnatt, Owen, Thorsness, Smitherman, Bauer and McMullen

Read first time 2/10/89 and referred to Committee on  Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to steelhead trout production; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the steelhead trout resource of the state can be greatly increased to benefit recreational fishermen and the economy of the state.  Investments in the increase of steelhead trout stocks will provide benefits many times the cost of the program and will act as a catalyst for many additional benefits in the tourism and maritime industries, while enhancing the livability of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

          The legislature hereby establishes a production goal to double the state-wide recreational steelhead trout catch by the year 2000.  The wildlife commission shall provide the legislature with a specific plan for legislative approval that will increase the recreational steelhead trout catch by one hundred percent over current levels by the year 2000.  The plan shall contain specific provisions to increase both hatchery and naturally spawning steelhead trout production to a level that will support the harvest goal established in this section.  All steelhead trout producing areas of the state are to be included in the plan.  The wildlife commission shall provide the plan to the house of representatives and senate ways and means, environment and natural resources, environmental affairs, and natural resources committees by December 31, 1989.

          The plan shall include the following critical elements:

          (1)  Ways of involving all fishing groups, including Indian tribes, in a cooperative manner;

          (2)  Ways of using low capital cost projects to produce steelhead trout as inexpensively as possible;

          (3)  Ways of reactivating all hatcheries and rearing ponds that are currently not used or are underutilized;

          (4)  Ways of increasing the productivity of natural spawning steelhead trout by watershed improvements;

          (5)  New technology that should be applied to increase the department's productivity;

          (6)  Analysis of the potential for private contracting to produce steelhead trout for public fisheries;

          (7)  Methods to increase public volunteer efforts and cooperative projects;

          (8)  Development of trophy steelhead trout fisheries;

          (9)  Elements of coordination with the Pacific Northwest Power Council programs to ensure maximum Columbia river benefits;

          (10)  The role that should be played by private consulting companies in developing and implementing the plan;

          (11)  Coordination with federal fish and wildlife agency and department of fisheries fish production programs;

          (12)  Future needs for steelhead trout predator control measures;

          (13)  Methods for maximizing the take of steelhead trout eggs for fish production purposes;

          (14)  Plans for preserving the vital food chain of the steelhead trout;

          (15)  Methods for addressing the interception of steelhead trout in foreign gill net fisheries that occur in international waters; and

          (16) Development of disease control measures.

          The wildlife commission, in cooperation with the department of revenue, shall assess various funding mechanisms and make recommendations to the legislature in the plan.  The wildlife commission, in cooperation with the department of trade and economic development, shall prepare an analysis of the economic benefits to the state that will occur when the steelhead trout catch is increased by one hundred percent in the year 2000.