SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1612

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, MARCH 22, 1993

Brief Description:  Testing the feasibility of remote site incubators for salmon enhancement.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Morton, King, Basich, Kremen, Sheldon, Foreman, Fuhrman, Chandler and Padden)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Erwin, Franklin, Haugen, Oke, Sellar, Snyder, and Spanel.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Hearing Dates: March 22, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Salmon eggs can be incubated in a small device called a remote site incubator.  Eggs in an incubator receive a constant supply of fresh water from a stream, while protected from most environmental disturbances.  Fry that hatch out move directly into the stream.

The Department of Fisheries has used several of these incubators, but has not evaluated their success.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Fisheries is directed to develop and implement, using volunteers, a pilot project in one or more watersheds to test remote site incubators, and to evaluate salmon egg survival, fry survival, and adult returns.  The department is directed to report by December 31, 1993, and each year for the following four years, to the Legislature on the progress and success of the remote site incubators.  The bill is null and void unless funding is provided through the omnibus Appropriations Act.

Appropriations:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Remote site incubators will increase the salmon and trout resource.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Bob Morton; Ed Manary, Dept. of Fisheries; Jerry Manuel, Dept. of Fisheries; Barbara Lindsay, NW Sportfishing Industry Assn.