BILL REQ. #:  H-4545.1 

Read first time 01/21/10.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to the standardization of salmon fishing time for gill net gear and purse seine gear in Puget Sound; adding a new section to chapter 77.50 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the economic well-being and stability of the fishing industry and the conservation of the food fish resources of the state of Washington are best served by allocating an equal amount of time to gill net gear and purse seine gear to harvest salmon in Puget Sound.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 77.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Whenever the commission authorizes commercial fishing for salmon within the waters described within this chapter, the commission shall adopt rules specifying weekly fishing schedules for gill net and purse seine gear that provide:
     (a) An equal amount of time opened during each week to take salmon; and
     (b) Alternate first day of the week openings to each gear type.
     (2) Exceptions to this equal time provision may be made only when:
     (a) Estimates obtained by direct, on-water sampling of each gear type show a disproportionate amount of the bycatch mortality of incidentally encountered fish or other species associated with fishing by either gear type;
     (b) Economic analyses of Puget Sound commercial salmon conclusively demonstrate that allocating a greater amount of time to either gear type will improve the economic well-being and stability of the fishing industry; or
     (c) The total allowable harvest, determined by the department on the basis of either preseason forecast or in-season gathered information, is insufficient to allow openings for both gill net and purse seine gears.
     (3) Nothing in this section limits commission authority under RCW 77.50.010.