AN ACT Relating to a
warm water game fish enhancement program; adding a new chapter to Title 77 RCW;
creating a new section; and providing effective dates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. A warm water game fish
enhancement program is created in the department to be funded from the sale of
a warm water game fish surcharge. The enhancement program shall be designed to
increase the opportunities to fish for and catch warm water game fish
including: Largemouth black bass, smallmouth black bass, channel catfish,
black crappie, white crappie, walleye, and tiger musky. The program shall be
designed to use a practical applied approach to increasing warm water fishing.
The department shall use the funds available efficiently to assure the greatest
increase in the fishing for warm water fish at the lowest cost. This approach
shall involve the minimization of overhead and administrative costs and the
maximization of productive in-the-field activities.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. Unless the context
clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter, "warm water game
fish" includes the following species: Bass, channel catfish, walleye,
crappie, and other species as defined by the department.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. (1) A warm water game
fish surcharge allows a person to fish throughout the state for warm water game
fish.
(2) The annual fee for
a game fish surcharge is five dollars and the surcharge is required in addition
to an annual game fishing license, except for those persons under fifteen years
of age for which there is no charge. Holders of three-day resident fishing
licenses, three-day nonresident fishing licenses, and nonresident annual
fishing licenses shall pay a five-dollar surcharge to fish for warm water fish.
(3) The department
shall use the most cost-effective format in designing and administering the
warm water game fish surcharge.
(4) A warm water game
fish surcharge shall only be required to fish for: Largemouth bass, smallmouth
bass, walleye, black crappie, white crappie, channel catfish, and tiger musky.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. The goals of the warm
water game fish enhancement program are to improve the fishing for warm water
game fish using cost-effective management. Development of new ponds and lakes
shall be an important and integral part of the program. The department shall
work with the department of natural resources to coordinate the reclamation of
surface mines and the development of warm water game fish ponds. Improvement
of warm water fishing shall be coordinated with the protection and conservation
of cold water fish populations. This shall be accomplished by carefully
designing the warm water projects to have minimal adverse effects upon the cold
water fish populations. New pond and lake development should have beneficial
effects upon wildlife due to the increase in lacustrine and wetland habitat
that will accompany the improvement of warm water fish habitat. The department
shall not develop projects that will increase the populations of undesirable or
deleterious fish species such as carp, squawfish, walking catfish, and others.
Fish culture programs shall
be used in conditions where they will prove to be cost-effective, and may
include the purchase of warm water fish from aquatic farmers defined in RCW
15.85.020. Consideration should be made for development of urban area
enhancement of fishing opportunity for put-and-take species, such as channel
catfish, that are amenable to production by low-cost fish culture methods.
Fish culture shall also be used for stocking of high value species, such as
walleye, smallmouth bass, and tiger musky. Introduction of special genetic
strains that show high potential for recreational fishing improvement,
including Florida strain largemouth bass and striped bass, shall be considered.
Transplantation and
introduction of exotic warm water fish shall be carefully reviewed to assure
that adverse effects to native fish and wildlife populations do not occur.
This review shall include an analysis of consequences from disease and parasite
introduction.
Population management
through the use of fish toxicants, including rotenone or derris root, shall be
an integral part of the warm water game fish enhancement program. However, any
use of fish toxicants shall be subject to a thorough review to prevent adverse
effects to cold water fish, desirable warm water fish, and other biota.
Eradication of deleterious fish species shall be a goal of the program.
Habitat improvement
shall be a major aspect of the warm water game fish enhancement program.
Habitat improvement opportunities shall be defined with scientific
investigations, field surveys, and by using the extensive experience of other
state management entities. Installation of cover, structure, water flow
control structures, screens, spawning substrate, vegetation control, and other
management techniques shall be fully used. The department shall work to gain
access to privately owned waters that can be developed with habitat
improvements to improve the warm water resource for public fishing.
The department shall
use the resources of cooperative groups to assist in the planning and
implementation of the warm water game fish enhancement program. In the
development of the program the department shall actively involve the organized
fishing clubs that primarily fish for warm water fish. The warm water fish
enhancement program shall be cooperative between the department and private
landowners; private landowners shall not be required to alter the uses of their
private property to fulfill the purposes of the warm water fish enhancement
program. The director shall not impose restrictions on the use of private
property, or take private property, for the purpose of the warm water fish
enhancement program.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
5. The warm water game fish
account is hereby created in the state wildlife fund. Moneys in the account
are subject to legislative appropriation and shall be used for the purpose of
funding the warm water game fish enhancement program, including the development
of warm water pond and lake habitat, culture of warm water game fish, improvement
of warm water fish habitat, management of warm water fish populations, and
other practical activities that will improve the fishing for warm water fish.
Funds from the warm water game fish surcharge shall not serve as replacement
funding for department-operated warm water fish projects existing on December
31, 1994. Funds from the warm water game fish account shall not be used for
the operation or construction of the warm water fish culture project at Ringold
unless specifically authorized by legislation.
Funds from the sale of
the warm water game fish surcharges shall be deposited in the warm water game
fish account.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
6. The department of fish
and wildlife shall provide to the natural resource committees of the
legislature an operational and management plan for the Ringold warm water fish
culture project on or before December 31, 1996.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
7. Sections 1 through 5 of
this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 77 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
8. (1) Sections 1, 2, and 4
through 6 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1996.
(2) Section 3 of this
act shall take effect January 1, 1997.
