SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6324

              As Passed Senate, February 12, 1998

Title:  An act relating to fish enhancement with remote site incubators.

Brief Description:  Rehabilitating salmon and trout populations with a remote site incubator program.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, Rasmussen, Oke, Swecker and West).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  1/20/98, 1/22/98 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means:  1/29/98, 2/3/98 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/12/98, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:   Ross Antipa (786-7413)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6324 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, Loveland, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau and Winsley.

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786-7708)

Background:  Remote site incubators are a cost-effective means of bypassing the early period of high mortality experienced by salmonid eggs that are naturally spawned in streams.

Remote site incubators may be useful for reintroduction of fish into areas that are not seeded by natural spawning and can therefore assist recovery efforts for threatened or endangered fish.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is required to develop a program to utilize remote site incubators for restoration of coho, chum and chinook salmon in tributaries to the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam.  Approval of remote site incubator projects by the department must only occur when the projects are compatible with conservation of wild salmonid stocks.  Volunteer groups are the primary means of implementing remote site incubators.  Remote site incubators may be constructed by department employees.  The director of the Fish and Wildlife works with the secretary of Corrections to investigate the possibility of producing incubators through the prison industries program.  The department must test remote site incubators for warm water fish production and report on the results of the remote site incubator program to the Legislature by December 1, 2000.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For (Natural Resources & Parks):  Remote site incubators are an effective tool for increasing fish populations.

Testimony Against (Natural Resources & Parks):  None.

Testified (Natural Resources & Parks):  Brian Edie, Department of Fish and Wildlife (pro).

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  Remote site incubators are an effective tool for increasing fish populations.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  PRO:  Senator Bob Morton, prime sponsor; Bern Shanks, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Chuck Wischman, Puget Sound Anglers; David Paden, Puget Sound Anglers.

House Amendment(s):  The remote site incubator program is allowed to operate anywhere in the state.  A null and void clause is added.