SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6593

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Natural Resources & Parks, February 6, 1998

                Ways & Means, February 10, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the department of natural resources.

Brief Description:  Funding a study of locations for finfish net‑pen aquaculture.

Sponsors:  Senators Swecker, Rasmussen and Morton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  2/5/98, 2/6/98 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  2/10/98 [DP2S].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6593 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6593 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Hochstatter, Long, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Schow, Snyder, Swecker and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Spanel.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  Finfish pen culture in marine waters is limited by a lack of suitable sites that can receive the proper permits for development.

If the Department of Natural Resources would identify finfish net-pen aquaculture zones within the Strait of Juan de Fuca, then further development of finfish aquaculture would have an opportunity for further expansion.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill:  The Department of Natural Resources must study establishment of finfish net-pen aquaculture zones within the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean, which reduce land-use conflicts, minimize competition with other water-dependent uses, limit adverse environmental impacts, and provide marine and weather conditions for finfish net-pens.

The department must report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 1999.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The $50,000 appropriation from the RMCA is removed.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Aquaculture zones are to be studied in Pacific Ocean areas.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 27, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  The net-pen finfish aquaculture industry needs new site locations in order to expand their operations.

Testimony Against:  Net-pen aquaculture harms the environment and may negatively affect native salmonids.

Testified (Natural Resources & Parks):  Lanny Carpenter, Puget Sound Gillnet Association (con); Barbara Stenson, Marine Environmental Cons. (con); John Woodring, Peter Granber, Martin Blonso, Washington Fishermen Association (pro).

Testified (Ways & Means):  John Woodring (pro).