FINAL BILL REPORT

                  2SSB 5120

                           FULL VETO

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Providing for fish enhancement with remote site incubators.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Morton).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  Remote site incubators are a technology for increasing populations of salmon and trout.  Greater application of remote site incubators will assist in fish restoration efforts.

Summary:  The Fish and Wildlife Commission must instruct the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify sites for remote site incubators.  Existing construction crew employees may be used to construct incubators.  The department must depend chiefly upon volunteer efforts to implement the remote site incubator program.  The department is directed to make surplus fish eggs available for the program and may contract with a variety of entities to purchase fish eggs for the program.  The department must work with fish farmers, other agencies, Indian tribes and volunteer groups to facilitate the program.  Remote site incubator technology must be tested with warm water fish.  The correctional industries program must be evaluated as a supplier of remote site incubators.

The director must approve remote site incubator projects unless they are a direct threat to the salmonid resource.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 48 1

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    33 9 (Senate concurred)