SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1485

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Natural Resources & Parks, March 27, 1997

Title:  An act relating to salmon harvest reporting.

Brief Description:  Requiring the department of fish and wildlife to report to the legislature regarding salmon harvests.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Linville, Buck, Hatfield, Chandler, Cooper, Sump, Regala, Butler, Anderson, Doumit, Morris, Sheldon, Tokuda, Kessler, Scott, Blalock and Dickerson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  3/21/97, 3/27/97 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Roach, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:   Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  The salmon and steelhead harvest is allocated between treaty Indian fisheries and non-Indian fisheries based upon federal court orders.

The public desires an annual accounting of the division of anadromous fish harvest and the reasons why the harvest is not equitably allocated.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature identifying the division of anadromous fish harvest between tribal fisheries, recreational non-Indian fisheries and commercial non-Indian fishers by management unit.  The report is due September 1, 1998 and each September 1 thereafter.  The report identifies nontribal harvests that do not meet full allocation and identifies key policies that result in less than full nontribal allocation.  Salmon and steelhead that are wasted must be identified in both location and quantity.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The striking amendment changes the reporting date from March 1 to September 1, 1998 and each September 1 thereafter.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 20, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The public wants salmon and steelhead catch data in an easily understood format so that catch by non-Indian and treaty Indian fisheries is readily available.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries (pro); Brian Edie, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (pro); Scott Coughlin, Purse Seine Vessel Owners Assn. (pro).