H-3806.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2465

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State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Buck, Thompson, Hymes, Clements, McMorris, Backlund, Pennington, Boldt, Honeyford, Carrell, Sterk and Goldsmith

Read first time 01/11/96.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Establishing requirements for fisheries closures.

     AN ACT Relating to fisheries closures; adding a new section to chapter 75.08 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:

     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any contracts or agreements relating to fisheries allocation between Stevens' treaty tribes and nontreaty fishers, no commercial or recreational fisheries may be closed unless for conservation purposes.  If a closure occurs for conservation purposes, then both treaty and nontreaty fisheries shall be closed on that species.

     The department shall take all actions necessary to implement and enforce this section.  Such actions include obtaining changes, amendments, or alterations in federal district court decrees that limit, impede, or interfere in any way with the department's ability to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any contracts or agreements relating to fisheries allocation between Stevens' treaty tribes and nontreaty fishers, no commercial or recreational fisheries may be closed unless for conservation purposes.  If a closure occurs for conservation purposes, then both treaty and nontreaty fisheries shall be closed on that species.

     The department shall take all actions necessary to implement and enforce this section.  Such actions include obtaining changes, amendments, or alterations in federal district court decrees that limit, impede, or interfere in any way with the department's ability to implement this section.

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