SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5036

BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senator Rasmussen)

Restricting sale of surplus salmon eggs by the department of fisheries.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1987; February 19,1987; January 19, 1988; February 2, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5036 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Metcalf, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Benitz, DeJarnatt, Owen.

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

                  March 3, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Fisheries is authorized to sell surplus salmon eggs, which are used primarily in salmon aquaculture, and salmon in the round where the eggs are used for bait and caviar.

                               Salmon Egg Sales

                      (not including sales in the round)

!tp1,1,1,2,2 !tj2!tl  Number !tl  Value

!tl1985 !tl Green !tl16,100,000 !tl$112,770

!tj1!tlEyed !tl 2,900,000 !tl  40,600

!tj1 !tlEyed !tl 7,560,000 !tl 105,840

!tj3!tl$259,200

!tl1986 !tlGreen !tl25,612,900 !tl$179,290

!tj1!tlEyed !tl 9,045,000 !tl$126,630

!tj3!tl$305,920

!tl1987 !tlGreen !tl40,000,000

!tl(est)  !tj2!tl$450,000

!tj1!tlEyed!tl10,000,000

In addition, three to four million pounds of fish are sold in the round each year which involves both male salmon and female salmon with eggs.

There is concern that the Department of Fisheries is selling salmon eggs that could be used for salmon propagation projects within watersheds and at hatcheries that are not at full productive capacity.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Fisheries will follow egg transfer and disease policies and will sell only eggs which can not be used for enhancement and rehabilitation in Washington state waters.  The Salmon Enhancement Advisory Council will review egg sales at each meeting.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Don Stevens, Washington Trollers Association; Ken Ferjancic, Fish Pro Inc.; Dan Cheney, Bay Center Mariculture; Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters; Moimi Maki, Grays Harbor Gillnetters; Paul Savidge, Fisheries Action Coalition; Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries; Ray Nelson, Commercial Fishermen

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The amendment makes a grammatical change and no substantive change is made.