SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5343

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 19, 1991

Brief Description:  Establishing a plan for mitigation requirements if game fish habitat is impaired.

SPONSORS:Senators Owen, Amondson, Sutherland, Conner, Metcalf, Bauer, Hansen, Vognild, Madsen and Bailey.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5343 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Conner, Owen, Patterson, Snyder, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates:February 19, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Mitigation for loss of fish habitat is established by the Department of Wildlife for each project.  Usually the person proposing the project provides for the funds for mitigation which the department itself undertakes. 

SUMMARY:

The Legislature declares that it is public policy to provide a method to allow the private propagation, production and enhancement of fish to aid in mitigation, and that entities that are required to mitigate for fish loss may contract with private fish growers to establish mitigation requirements and provide a mechanism so that the mitigator can meet requirements by entering into a private contract with aquatic farmers.  The fish health requirements and the mitigation requirements shall still be determined by the Department of Wildlife, but the game fish may be purchased through a private contract between aquatic farmers and the mitigators.  Fish must meet the species, size and health requirements of the Department of Wildlife. 

The department may contract or directly purchase fish from aquatic farmers for public stocking or use funds that have been donated to the department for fish stocking by purchasing stocks from aquatic farmers. 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

It is public policy to allow private propagation, production, protection and enhancement of fish.  The Department of Wildlife shall allow persons receiving permits and licenses the option of purchasing fish from aquatic farmers under health, species and number requirements set by the department.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is an excellent method to provide fish and meet needs of the state and private aquatic farmers (supported the concept of the bill and the substitute).

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Jim Zimmerman, Trout Lodge (pro); Ron Peregrin, Department of Wildlife (pro); Dick Wallace, Department of Ecology (pro)