SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6315

BYSenators Owen, Barr and West

Authorizing commercial salmon fishing with purse seine gear in certain areas.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1988

Senate Staff:Ross Antipa (786-7413)

AS OF JANUARY 27, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Initiative 77 was approved by the voters in 1934.  The effect of the initiative was to restrict commercial salmon fisheries from fishing certain areas and times of the year, and also to restrict the method that may be used for commercial salmon fishing.

The statutes were subsequently amended in 1973 to allow for gill net fishing in certain bays and passages before the second Monday in September.

Purse seine fishermen would like to fish the same bays and passages that are open to gill net fishermen before the second Monday in September.

SUMMARY:

Commercial fishing for salmon with purse seine gear is authorized prior to the second Monday in September in Hale Passage, Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay, Padilla Bay, Fidalgo Bay, Guemes Channel, Skagit Bay, and Similk Bay.  The purse seine fishery could then be regulated in the same manner as the gill net fishery in the above areas.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested