Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

HB 2463

Brief Description:  Creating the Hood Canal marine sanctuary.

Sponsors:  Representatives Eickmeyer, Sump, Jackley, Rockefeller, Doumit, Haigh, Pearson, Grant and Chase.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Establishes a Hood Canal marine sanctuary to protect, preserve, and fully recover salmon, steelhead, herring, smelt, ling cod, perch, and black cod, and all other species of aquatic animal and plant life indigenous to Hood Canal  excluding shellfish.

$Allows for the harvest of salmonids and shellfish.

$Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), in cooperation with the tribal co‑managers, to develop a definition of "full recovery" for summer chum, chinook, and coho salmon, and for steelhead by July 1, 2004.  By July 1, 2006, a definition must be developed for "full recovery" of all nonsalmonid species.

Hearing Date:  2/1/02

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background:

The Hood Canal area has had many miles of spawning and rearing habitat restored, and much of this is due to the efforts of volunteers.  Despite these efforts, there are few fish are returning to spawn in this area.  Bottom fish and other fish species are also in decline in this area.  It is suggested that the creation of a marine sanctuary for Hood Canal and its tributaries, along with the development of a definition of full recovery for the various fish species, will help lead to the recovery of these fish so that they can sustain regulated harvesting.

Summary of Proposed Substitute Bill:

The original bill was not considered by the committee.

The Hood Canal marine sanctuary is established in order to protect, preserve, and fully recover in the following order:  (a) summer chum salmon, chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead; (b) herring, smelt, ling cod, perch, and black cod; and (c) all other species of aquatic animal and plant life indigenous to Hood Canal  excluding shellfish.  The  boundary for the marine sanctuary is the geographic area covered by the Hood Canal summer chum salmon evolutionarily significant unit.

Except for salmonids and shellfish, the Fish and Wildlife Commission must prohibit the harvest of all species of fish in Hood Canal or its tributaries until the species have fully recovered and can sustain regulated harvesting without impairing future production.  Management of the harvest of summer chum, fall chinook, or coho salmon must fully support the sustainable recovery effort in Hood Canal and its tributaries.  Tribal treaty fishing rights are not affected.

By October 1, 2002, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) must provide a complete inventory of all streams within the sanctuary area.  By July 1, 2004, the DFW, in cooperation with the tribal co‑managers, must develop a definition of "full recovery" for summer chum, chinook and coho salmon, and for steelhead.  By July 1, 2006, a definition must be developed for "full recovery" of all nonsalmonid species.  The definition must be based on the most recently available scientific data, and be based primarily upon a field inventory count of escapement in the spawning tributaries.  The Hood Canal Coordinating Council and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group must be involved in developing the definition of "full recovery" and the identification of the streams.

The DFW must authorize remote site incubators to enhance summer chum production.  The DFW is directed to work with the Hood Canal salmon enhancement group to identify sites that would be suitable for the placement of these remote site incubators, and to place and manage the incubators as necessary.

The DFW may extend the protections of the marine sanctuary to the waters that enter into Hood Canal or its tributaries.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 21, 2002.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.