S-0623.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5969
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senators Oke and Haugen
Read first time 02/24/97. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.
AN ACT Relating to appointment of a mediator to identify a solution to a wasteful commercial fishing practice; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds a wasteful commercial fishing practice occurs in the Hood Canal commercial chum salmon fishery. Over the 1995 and 1996 seasons large numbers of adult chum salmon were harvested, eggs were removed from the female salmon, and the stripped female salmon and the male salmon were discarded along the beaches and waters of Hood Canal. The practice of wasting a large number of adult chum salmon is not acceptable to the legislature and the people of the state of Washington. The legislature finds that the wastage is primarily occurring in the commercial chum salmon fishery. The majority of the wasted chum salmon are produced in state-funded and state-operated salmon hatcheries.
(2) The ultimate management responsibility resides with the comanagers of the salmon resource, the state and the treaty tribes as represented by the fish and wildlife commission and the Northwest Indian fisheries commission. These two deliberative decision-making bodies must jointly act with a swift and determined decision to permanently solve this serious resource devastation. The desultory and capricious government policies that allowed this pillage for a second year must be redirected by the ultimate management authorities.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The legislature finds a mediator is needed to help find a solution to the problem of chum salmon wastage in Hood Canal. The mediator shall work cooperatively with the comanagers of the salmon resource, the Northwest Indian fisheries commission and the fish and wildlife commission. The mediator shall report to the legislature on or before September 1, 1997, the results of the mediation effort toward solving the chum salmon wastage problem.
(2) The legislature, under Article III, section 16 of the state Constitution, respectfully appoints the lieutenant governor of the state of Washington to act as the mediator for the Hood Canal chum salmon wastage problem. The negotiation skills of the lieutenant governor are critically needed to solve this problem with a government‑to‑government approach. Neither the state of Washington, which produces the chum salmon, or the treaty Indian tribes, which catch the salmon, can solve this problem unilaterally. The lieutenant governor is uniquely qualified to serve as mediator between the state and the tribes.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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