H-1538.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1905
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Morris and R. King.
Read first time February 14, 1991. Referred to Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife.
AN ACT Relating to the commercial catch and sale of sturgeon; adding a new section to chapter 75.12 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 sturgeon fishery is declining and that limiting the commercial harvest of and preventing the sale of sturgeon may improve the status of this fishery in state waters.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 75.12 RCW to read as follows:
Until the director has established that sturgeon populations are increasing significantly, the director shall eliminate in state waters all commercial fisheries that target sturgeon. It shall be unlawful to sell any sturgeon taken incidentally to a lawful commercial target fishery for another species. Once the director makes a determination that sturgeon populations are increasing, the director shall designate the sturgeon fishery as an emerging commercial fishery under RCW 75.30.220.