BILL REQ. #:  S-3456.1 

Read first time 01/15/10.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to promoting natural wildlife management planning; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 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 fish and wildlife of Washington state are among the most important of its natural resources, and that fish and wildlife provide vital cultural, recreational, aesthetic, and economic contributions to the state. In order to continue to enjoy these benefits, the state must continue to work to conserve its existing fish and wildlife resources and recover its threatened and endangered species.
     However, the legislature also recognizes that fish and wildlife management and recovery activities sometimes have unintended consequences. Intervention in the propagation and dispersal of a fish or wildlife species has the potential to cause genetic change to a population. For example, studies have shown that artificial propagation of Pacific salmon species can result in adverse changes to the genetics of the wild salmon population.
     Therefore, the legislature intends to encourage the use of natural fish and wildlife propagation and dispersal methods and to minimize unintended consequences from artificial propagation and dispersal activities in the future. The legislature does not seek to interfere with management and recovery activities already underway for a particular species, such as existing hatchery programs, or to prohibit future artificial propagation or dispersal of fish and wildlife. Instead, the legislature intends to ensure additional policy review for artificial propagation and dispersal activities by directly reviewing future proposals.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:
     The department must obtain specific legislative authorization prior to implementing a species management, recovery, or reintroduction plan that recognizes a method of propagation or dispersal other than natural propagation or dispersal where:
     (1) The plan is approved for implementation on or after the effective date of this section; and
     (2) The method of dispersal or propagation, other than natural dispersal or propagation, recognized in the plan is not currently employed by the department for that species.