S-1572.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5501
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Owen, Sutherland, L. Smith, Vognild, Amondson and Bauer).
Read first time February 25, 1991.
AN ACT Relating to commercial salmon fishing licenses; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The commercial salmon fishing industry in the state suffers from too many licensed fishers which contributes to an excess of fishing power in comparison to the amount of salmon available for harvest and provides for uncertainty in the management of the resource. The legislature finds that the ability of the department of fisheries to manage and protect the fisheries resource is jeopardized by allowing too many boats to be licensed and commercially fish in the waters of the state. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the state to protect and perpetuate the salmon resource in order to provide salmon for all, and to determine what a manageable number of licensed commercial fishing boats shall be.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The director of the department of fisheries shall investigate the requirements for the issuance of commercial salmon fishing licenses and make recommendations to the legislature on or before January 1, 1992. The objectives of the investigation are to determine reasonable qualifications for the minimum poundage of salmon to be caught annually in order to qualify for commercial license renewal, and to establish specific conditions under which commercial salmon licenses may be sold or transferred.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The director of the department of fisheries shall work closely with the commercial salmon fishing industry while developing the recommendations for the legislature.