SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1996-8700

By Senator Morton

     WHEREAS,  The Legislature has appropriated funds for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish and maintain a Hatchery Program for Chinook salmon at the Green River Hatchery; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of Fish and Wildlife has raised 1.5 million Chinook fry that the department has designated as "surplus";

     WHEREAS, The Department of Fish and Wildlife has already destroyed 600,000 "surplus" Chinook fry rather than releasing them"; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of Fish and Wildlife is considering destroying another 900,000 Chinook fry because they are "surplus"; and

     WHEREAS, Other waters outside of the Green River area are suitable for Chinook salmon stock; and

     WHEREAS, There is no reason to destroy this resource that the taxpayers of the state of Washington have funded and supported; and

     WHEREAS, The citizens of the state of Washington are funding a variety of programs designed to protect, enhance and preserve the salmon resource in this state; and

     WHEREAS, The lack of sufficient hatchery fish production is hindering efforts to provide adequate numbers of salmon for both commercial and sport fisheries; and

     WHEREAS, This state has been known for its abundant salmon fishery; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of Fish and Wildlife has not carefully monitored the production of  and demand for salmon fry in its hatchery program;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate requests the Department of Fish and Wildlife to do everything possible to avoid wasting tax payer money and destroying the remaining 900,000 Chinook salmon; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate requests that the Department of Fish and Wildlife review its allocation methods and production practices to address these concerns before destroying any more Chinook or other salmon fry.