HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5289

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf, DeJarnatt, Barr, Benitz and Anderson)

Authorizing the formation of regional fisheries enhancement groups.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; S. Wilson, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bowman, Brooks, Cole, Haugen, Smith, Spanel and Vekich.

House Staff:Pamela Madson (786-7310)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 12, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Grays Harbor Fisheries Task Force was formed in 1980 as a volunteer effort to enhance the salmon and steelhead resources of the Grays Harbor system.  The task force membership included federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, commercial, and sport fishing groups.  Funding comes from the Port of Grays Harbor.  Grant proposals have been submitted to various sources to enhance the task force funding source.

The task force has been working with the "Long Live the Kings" project to rear chinook for release into the Wishkah River.  Task force projects will require an on-going stable source of funding.

SUMMARY:

The formation of three regional fishery enhancement groups is authorized.  The groups are directed to seek enhancement of the salmon resource, consistent with the watershed planning process currently in place.  The groups shall maximize volunteer efforts, assist in achieving the goal of doubling salmon runs by the year 2000, and develop projects that supplement the department's fishery enhancement capability.

Any interested person may become a member of a group.  In order to obtain state funds, the group must be formally organized, must be broadly representative of the region, and must obtain a federal non- profit tax-exempt status.

Fiscal Note:      Requested March 20, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jim Walls, Columbia Pacific RC&D; Tom Pentt, WA State Council of Trout Unlimited; John Sayre, Long Live the Kings; Bob Paylor, Grays Harbor County Commissioner; Gene Deschamps, fish biologist, Chehalis Tribe; Mark Ashley, Willapa Bay Gillnetters; Bill Banks, Grays Harbor Regional Planning Commission; Harmon Van Slyke, Pacific Trollers; William Brown, Pacific Trollers; Bob Zuanich, Purse Seine Vessel Owners' Association; Greg Bloom, Salmon for Washington; Jim Youngren, Glenwood Springs Hatchery and Long Live the Kings; and Larry Thevir, Washington Trollers' Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Efforts to enhance natural resources need public and user group involvement and a sense of ownership by members of the public in these efforts.  Sport and commercial fishers would be willing to pay more for license fees or landing fees if the funds were dedicated to enhancing the resource and not just placed in the general fund.

The Task Force encourages the various fishing groups to work together to enhance the resource and not argue about allocation of the resource.  The Task Force works very closely with the Department of Fisheries.  In Grays Harbor, fishery enhancement is equated with economic development.  The county, as a whole, benefits from an enhanced fishery.

The Grays Harbor Fisheries Enhancement Task Force, through its nine year experience, has identified a need to develop a long-term, stable source of funding for operation and maintenance.  Volunteer efforts need some stable staff support.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The Department of Fisheries shares the goal of enhancing the salmon resource.  Several enhancement efforts have been undertaken by the Department. In 1985, the Legislature established a watershed planning process to enhance the salmon resource.  In 1988, the Legislature passed legislation relating to salmon production with a goal of doubling the salmon runs by the year 2000.  Plans to achieve this goal must be completed for the Columbia River by March 15, 1990 and for the coast and Puget Sound, by January 1, 1992.  The department supports the planning process set up in these earlier legislative proposals and suggest that this proposal be evaluated along with others in the planning process underway.  Funds for volunteer projects have increased through the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account and are available.  Such funds cannot be used to pay for labor.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 93; Absent 3; Excused 2

Absent:     Representatives H. Sommers, Valle and Walk

Excused:    Representatives Gallagher and D. Sommers