FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5442

C 163 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing the use of certain salmon fishing gear with an experimental fishery permit.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, Jacobsen, Morton and Oke; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  Fish traps were prohibited for commercial fishing purposes by Initiative 77 which was approved by the voters in 1934.  Fish traps include fish wheels (both shore based and floating platform), weirs across streams, set nets, and other forms of fixed commercial fishing appliances.  Reef nets are the only authorized form of commercial fishing gear which is fixed to a particular location.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife desires to test fixed commercial fishing methods under experimental fishery permits to assist in salmon recovery.

Summary:  The director may issue a trial or experimental fishery permit that authorizes pound nets, round haul nets, lampara nets, fish traps, fish wheels, scow fish wheels, set nets, weirs, or other fixed appliances for catching salmon or steelhead in order to assist salmon recovery.  The director must report on mass marking and supplementation programs effecting selective commercial fisheries, effectiveness of selective fishing gear, mortality of non-target stocks and experimental operation of hatcheries so that wild and hatchery stocks are managed as a single run.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate490

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    47 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001