S-3742.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6573

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen and Swecker

Read first time 01/19/2000.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation.

Prohibiting roe harvesting from threatened or endangered salmon or steelhead.

    AN ACT Relating to salmon and steelhead roe harvesting; adding a new section to chapter 77.15 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the practice of harvesting roe from threatened or endangered salmon and steelhead occurs, and that the survival of some stocks of anadromous fish may be jeopardized by this activity.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 77.15 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Roe harvesting is the practice of catching a threatened or endangered female anadromous salmon or steelhead, removing and retaining the eggs, and discarding the carcass.

    (2) It is unlawful to practice roe harvesting.

    (3) A violation of this section is a class C felony.

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