S-1845

AN ACT Relating to management and enhancement of Hood Canal salmon resources; adding new sections to chapter 75.28 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The optimum management of Hood Canal salmon stocks is necessary in order to restore salmon runs and provide for a successful recreational and commercial fishery. The department of fisheries shall place special emphasis on conservation measures which will restore all salmon resources in Hood Canal, with particular emphasis on chinook and coho salmon stocks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A Hood Canal commercial salmon fishing permit is required of all licensed commercial fishers who fish in Hood Canal. The fee for the Hood Canal commercial salmon fishing permit is one hundred dollars annually. The director shall issue a maximum of two hundred fifty Hood Canal commercial salmon fishing permits for gill net fishers annually and a maximum of thirty Hood Canal commercial salmon fishing permits for purse seine fishers annually.

The Hood Canal commercial salmon fishing permit is required in addition to a valid commercial fishing license in order to commercially fish Hood Canal waters for salmon.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Enforcement of commercial salmon fishing rules shall be emphasized in Hood Canal commercial fisheries. The department shall increase its program of fisheries patrol on Hood Canal waters during the commercial salmon season in order to achieve a higher level of compliance with department rules.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department shall expand its use of volunteer observers on Hood Canal commercial fishing boats for the primary purpose of documenting the bycatch of immature chinook salmon, coho salmon, and game fish in commercial fisheries. The department shall develop information on where, when, and under what conditions significant numbers of immature chinook salmon, coho salmon, and game fish are captured in Hood Canal commercial fisheries.

The department shall manage the commercial fisheries in such a manner as to minimize the capture of salmon or game fish which are important to the recreational fisheries of Hood Canal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Commercial fisheries shall be limited in Hood Canal to areas where important recreational fisheries do not exist. The department shall seek to conduct the majority of commercial fisheries in the northern portion of Hood Canal.

Commercial fishing gear shall not be used in Hood Canal areas shallower than one hundred feet in depth at mean lower low water. Commercial fishing gear shall not be used within five hundred yards of the shoreline in Hood Canal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The director shall limit the types of commercial fishing gear used in Hood Canal commercial fisheries in order to minimize the bycatch of fish that are important to the recreational fishery. Restrictions on mesh size, length, depth, and other construction of commercial gear are to be considered based on information received under section 4 of this act, as well as other research information available to the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The director shall investigate the potential for enhancement projects designed to increase the abundance and availability of Hood Canal blackmouth or immature chinook salmon for the recreational fishery. Use of earthen rearing ponds such as the formerly successful Percival Cove project, shall be fully investigated.

The director shall develop an action plan for enhancement of the recreational blackmouth fishery in Hood Canal, and shall present such report to the legislature on or before December 31, 1991. Included in the report shall be draft legislation designed to accomplish enhancement of the Hood Canal blackmouth recreational fishery.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 75.28 RCW.