CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6264

Chapter 250, Laws of 1998

55th Legislature

1998 Regular Session

MASS MARKETING OF CHINOOK SALMON

EFFECTIVE DATE: 6/11/98

Passed by the Senate March 9, 1998

YEAS 42 NAYS 5

BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

Passed by the House March 5, 1998

YEAS 62 NAYS 35

CERTIFICATE

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6264 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the

House of Representatives

MIKE O'CONNELL

Secretary

Approved April 1, 1998

FILED

April 1, 1998 - 2:49 p.m.

GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State

State of Washington

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SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6264

_______________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

Passed Legislature - 1998 Regular Session

State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Oke, Rasmussen, Morton, Swecker and Anderson)

Read first time 02/05/98.

AN ACT Relating to mass marking of chinook salmon; amending RCW 75.08.510; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that mass marking of hatchery-raised salmon is an effective tool for implementing selective salmon fisheries in this state. Mass marking of coho salmon is currently underway and holds great promise for maintaining both recreational and commercial fishing opportunities while protecting wild stocks. In view of the anticipated listing of Puget Sound chinook salmon as endangered under the federal endangered species act, the legislature finds that it is essential to expeditiously proceed with implementing a mass marking program for chinook salmon in Puget Sound and elsewhere in the state.

Through a cooperative effort by state and federal agencies and private enterprise, appropriate technologies have been developed for marking chinook salmon. It is the intent of the legislature to use these newly developed tools to implement chinook salmon mass marking beginning in April 1999.

Sec. 2. RCW 75.08.510 and 1995 c 372 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall mark appropriate coho salmon that are released from department operated hatcheries and rearing ponds in such a manner that the fish are externally recognizable as hatchery origin salmon by fishers for the purpose of maximized catch while sustaining wild and hatchery reproduction.

The department shall mark all appropriate chinook salmon targeted for contribution to the Washington catch that are released from department operated hatcheries and rearing ponds in such a manner that the fish are externally recognizable as hatchery origin salmon by fishers.

The goal of the marking program is: (1) The annual marking by June 30, 1997, of all appropriate hatchery origin ((~~chinook and~~)) coho salmon produced by the department with marking to begin with the 1994 Puget Sound coho brood; and (2) the annual marking by June 30, 1999, of all appropriate hatchery origin chinook salmon produced by the department with marking to begin with the 1998 chinook brood. The department may experiment with different methods for marking hatchery salmon with the primary objective of maximum survival of hatchery marked fish, maximum contribution to fisheries, and minimum cost consistent with the other goals.

The department shall coordinate with other entities that are producing hatchery chinook and coho salmon for release into public waters to enable the broadest application of the marking program to all hatchery produced chinook and coho salmon. The department shall work with the treaty Indian tribes in order to reach mutual agreement on the implementation of the mass marking program. The department shall report to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 1999, on the progress made in reaching mutual agreement with the treaty Indian tribes and any Pacific coast state or province to achieve the goal of coast-wide marking of chinook and coho salmon. The ultimate goal of the program is the coast-wide marking of appropriate hatchery origin chinook and coho salmon, and the protection of all wild chinook and coho salmon, where appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1998, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.