SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1997-8651

By Senators Swecker and Snyder

     WHEREAS, The geoducks growing in the waters of the State of Washington, recognized for their outstanding quality, are a valuable natural resource that should be administered to maximize their benefit to the public and to international commerce; and

     WHEREAS, The geoduck divers, license holders, and their families are dependent upon this resource for their livelihood; and

     WHEREAS, Geoduck harvesting contributes to the economy of the State of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, The laws governing the harvesting of geoducks involve multiple state agencies with a wide variety of priorities and that there is debate over whether the laws are evenly enforced in a coordinated and comprehensive manner;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate that the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Parks review the statutes governing the management and administration of the geoduck fishery and the manner in which the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fish and Wildlife interpret and administer these laws in the fulfillment of their public responsibilities, with the charge of considering whether to propose legislation that will provide for the sound management of the resource.  The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the full Senate not later than the commencement of the January 1998 session of the legislature.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1997-8651,

adopted by the Senate April 11, 1997.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate