S-0439.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5104
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Senators Haugen, Swecker, Spanel and Fraser
Read first time 01/13/1999. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation.
AN ACT Relating to catch and release recreational fisheries; 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 practice of establishing exclusive catch and release recreational fisheries on steelhead trout by the fish and wildlife commission requires that the commission commit significant resources to assure that these fisheries are not subject to abuse by unknowing or uncaring anglers. In addition, the commission shall not authorize catch and release seasons or areas that may harm steelhead trout reproduction by authorizing fishing on spawning beds and for spawning fish.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:
The commission shall not authorize catch and release fisheries for steelhead trout unless all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Sufficient enforcement capability is assigned to the fishery to assure angler compliance to the rules;
(2) There must be an angler education and certification program administered by the department to establish an individual certification for each angler that participates in the fishery. The certification shall attest to the competency of the angler for proper methods of releasing steelhead unharmed, angler ethics, anadromous fish identification, and other educational needs for the development of responsible anglers;
(3) A daily limit must be placed on the number of steelhead that can be caught and released;
(4) A plan must be developed and implemented to limit the number of days a week that an individual angler may participate in steelhead catch and release fisheries throughout the state;
(5) A proposal must be submitted to the legislature at the beginning of the 2000 legislative session for increasing the penalties for retaining steelhead in a catch and release recreational fishery;
(6) A proposal must be submitted to the legislature at the beginning of the 2000 legislative session that allows for increased angler fees for participation in a steelhead catch and release fishery. The fees will compensate the commission for the additional costs necessary for the proper management of a catch and release steelhead trout fishery;
(7) A steelhead catch and release mortality study must be conducted by the department in order to assess the rates of steelhead mortality during a catch and release fishery. The commission shall supervise the study to assure that at least one aspect of the study shall assess the affects of warm stream conditions on the survival of released steelhead; and
(8) Catch and release fisheries may not be authorized for spawning steelhead trout under any circumstances.
In the event that the commission cannot comply with all of the statutory requirements for the management of a properly conducted steelhead trout fishery, then the commission shall not authorize any steelhead trout catch and release fisheries within state waters.
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