H-4031.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2713
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives Goldsmith, Koster, Boldt, Hargrove and Benton
Read first time 01/17/96. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to eliminating the exclusivity of gill net gear in certain waters; amending RCW 75.12.010; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that fisheries managers need the greatest possible flexibility in the types of fishing gear which can be made available for use in the harvest of salmon resources in Puget Sound. Future fishing activities will increasingly call for fishing operations to be able to release alive those fish not targeted for catch. This is particularly true in those near-terminal areas in which there are substantial stocks of commercially harvestable salmon available as well as certain stocks in need of protection. The exclusive limitation in those areas to fisheries using gear not capable of meaningful live release is contrary to the long-term needs of allowing productive harvests of surplus salmon stocks while minimizing impacts on weak-wild salmon stocks of concern.
Sec. 2. RCW 75.12.010 (Referendum Bill No. 45) and 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful to fish commercially for salmon within the waters described in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) All waters east and south of a line commencing at a concrete monument on Angeles Point in Clallam county near the mouth of the Elwha River on which is inscribed "Angeles Point Monument" (latitude 48E 9' 3"north, longitude 123E 33' 01" west of Greenwich Meridian); thence running east on a line 81E 30' true across the flashlight and bell buoy off Partridge Point and thence continued to longitude 122E 40' west; thence north to the southerly shore of Sinclair Island; thence along the southerly shore of the island to the most easterly point of the island; thence 46E true to Carter Point, the most southerly point of Lummi Island; thence northwesterly along the westerly shore line of Lummi Island to where the shore line intersects line of longitude 122E 40' west; thence north to the mainland, including: The southerly portion of Hale Passage, Bellingham Bay, Padilla Bay, Fidalgo Bay, Guemes Channel, Skagit Bay, Similk Bay, Saratoga Passage, Holmes Harbor, Possession Sound, Admiralty Inlet, Hood Canal, Puget Sound, and their inlets, passages, waters, waterways, and tributaries.
(3) The commission may authorize commercial fishing for sockeye salmon within the waters described in subsection (2) of this section during the period June 10 to July 25 and for other salmon from the second Monday of September through November 30, except during the hours between 4:00 p.m. of Friday and 4:00 p.m. of the following Sunday.
(4) The commission may authorize commercial fishing for salmon with gill net, purse seine, and other lawful gear prior to the second Monday in September within the waters of Hale Passage, Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay, Padilla Bay, Fidalgo Bay, Guemes Channel, Skagit Bay, and Similk Bay, to wit: Those waters northerly and easterly of a line commencing at Stanwood, thence along the south shore of Skagit Bay to Rocky Point on Camano Island; thence northerly to Polnell Point on Whidbey Island.
(5) Whenever the commission determines that a stock or run of salmon cannot be harvested in the usual manner, and that the stock or run of salmon may be in danger of being wasted and surplus to natural or artificial spawning requirements, the commission may authorize units of gill net and purse seine gear in any number or equivalents, by time and area, to fully utilize the harvestable portions of these salmon runs for the economic well being of the citizens of this state. Gill net and purse seine gear other than emergency and test gear authorized by the director shall not be used in Lake Washington.
(6) The commission may authorize commercial fishing for pink salmon in each odd-numbered year from August 1 through September 1 in the waters lying inside of a line commencing at the most easterly point of Dungeness Spit and thence projected to Point Partridge on Whidbey Island and a line commencing at Olele Point and thence projected easterly to Bush Point on Whidbey Island.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1996.
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