SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6335

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 4, 1992

Brief Description:  Authorizing commercial salmon producers to form a commodity commission.

SPONSORS: Senators Owen, Barr, Sellar, Snyder and von Reichbauer

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6335 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Owen, and Snyder.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. 

      Signed by Senator Sutherland.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates: February 4, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Commodity commissions in the state of Washington collect fees from members and provide research and advertising and market development for the industry that the commodity commission serves.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature finds that the marketing of commercially caught and delivered salmon in the state of Washington is affected by the public interest and that the salmon industry needs to participate more fully in the production, protection, improvement and restoration of salmon resources. 

The Washington commercial salmon producers may elect to form a commodity commission with the following purposes:  salmon habitat restoration, recovery of lost or abandoned commercial fishing nets, test fishing and other salmon production and management, provide fully or partially compensated interns for the Department of Fisheries, and any other activity that advances the benefits of salmon resource.  The commission may levy fees against members and enter into marketing agreements.

The commission may solicit funds and expend grant funds from private and governmental sources for the purposes of the act.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Language is added to ensure that the commission will have no effect on sports or commercial salmon harvest levels.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

A commission is needed to help salmon harvesters compete in world markets.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Bob Lake, Willapa Gillnetters; Don Stuart, Salmon For Washington; Jeff Taylor, Columbia River Gillnetters; Randy Ray, Pacific Seafoods