HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 3052
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Title: An act relating to the role of the department of fish and wildlife in the management of the state wildstock geoduck resource.
Brief Description: Concerning the management of the wildstock geoduck resource.
Sponsors: Representatives Appleton, Sells, Flannigan, Roberts, Haigh, Dickerson and Williams.
Brief History:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: 1/30/08, 2/5/08 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Van De Wege, Vice Chair; Kretz, Ranking Minority Member; Warnick, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Eickmeyer, Grant, Kristiansen, Lantz, Loomis, McCoy, Nelson, Newhouse and Orcutt.
Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
Wildstock geoduck resources and the commercial geoduck fishery are generally managed
jointly by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU
gives the WDFW primary responsibility for conducting resource assessments and setting the
total amount of geoducks that can be harvested annually. The DNR has primary
responsibility, according to the MOU, for managing the state harvest and sale of geoducks,
including the planning and location of state sales.
The WDFW and the DNR agreed in the MOU to jointly represent the state delegation in
conversations with area tribes concerning the state-tribal management of the subtidal geoduck
fishery. Both state agencies agreed to work together in adopting a unified state position on
geoduck management prior to presenting the state position to the tribal co-managers. The
signatures of both state agency directors appear on management plans entered into by the
state and tribes.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The role of the WDFW as the entity with the primary responsibility to identify commercial
geoduck tracks, conduct all geoduck fishery assessments, and set the total allowable catch
limits for the harvest of geoducks from state-owned aquatic lands is required in statute.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The original bill included a provision that prohibited the DNR from substituting information
from sources other than the WDFW when determining geoduck information.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The only way that the Legislature can assure that the current working
relationship between the DNR and the WDFW continues on into the future is by codifying
the current geoduck MOU in statute. A geoduck is a fish, and fishery biologists should be the
ones making decisions about the health of the biomass.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Appleton, prime sponsor; and Rich Doenges, Department of Natural Resources.