SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6247

BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf, Owen and Rasmussen)

Prohibiting the taking of herring spawn in any commercial fishery.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1988; February 2, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6247 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Ross Antipa (786-7413)

                  February 2, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Herring eggs are a valuable commercial fishery product.  Herring eggs may be harvested by harvesting adult female herring or by harvesting the fertilized eggs that are deposited on kelp or other objects present in the marine environment.

There is concern that the harvesting of fertilized eggs from the marine environment may reduce herring reproduction, and adversely affect fisheries' stocks that feed on herring.

SUMMARY:

The commercial harvesting of fertilized herring roe and the commercial harvesting of adult herring in a salmon fishery is prohibited for conservation reasons.  If treaty Indian fishermen are granted tribal rights to commercially harvest fertilized herring roe or adult herring in a salmon fishery then non-Indian herring fishermen shall have the same fishing opportunity.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Mark Pedersen, Washington Department of Fisheries; Ed Manary, Washington Department of Fisheries; Martin Sandbeck, Herring Fisherman; Alan Hightower, Herring Fisherman; Jerry Pavletich, Trout Unlimited; Philip Dorn, Clallam Tribe; Pat Gamble, Clallam Tribe; Dale Marble, Fisherman