S-0432.1/91 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5059
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senators Metcalf, Rasmussen, Anderson, Oke, Roach and Conner.
Read first time January 17, 1991. Referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to the enhancement of pink salmon; adding new sections to chapter 75.08 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the hatchery culture of pink salmon has been remarkably successful in Alaskan waters. The Prince William Sound aquaculture corporation has the most successful program in Alaska. In 1990 the corporation produced a total of thirty million adult pink salmon from only three hatchery facilities. This level of productivity is well in excess of three times the annual Washington state salmon catch.
Washington state fisheries can benefit immensely from utilization of the Alaskan fish culture methods for the purpose of cost-effective production of pink salmon.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:
Beginning with the 1991 brood of pink salmon, and all subsequent broods, the department shall spawn and retain all available pink salmon eggs for the purposes of this section.
The department shall acquire and install sufficient fine-mesh floating net pens for early marine rearing of pink salmon. The net pens shall be located in three areas:
(1) Hood Canal;
(2) South Puget Sound; and
(3) North Puget Sound.
The department shall locate the pens at existing net pen sites as much as is practical. All available pink salmon fry are to be placed in the pens for rearing by the Alaskan method. Sufficient pink salmon are to be retained for release at mother hatcheries for purposes of subsequent brood stock production.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall contact the Alaska department of fish and game for the purpose of acquiring eggs from even-year returning pink salmon for introduction into Washington waters. Even-year pink salmon shall be introduced into state waters.
The department shall utilize all applicable Alaskan rearing methods for even-year pink salmon to assure maximum survival and opportunities for developing a self-sustainable population.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.