HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5290

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

Enhancing salmon resources.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (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 REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Salmon Advisory Council was created in 1977 to assist the Department of Fisheries in planning for salmon propagation facilities.

The department has authority to sell surplus salmon eggs which are used primarily in salmon aquaculture and salmon in the round (bait and caviar).  In 1988, the council was given the responsibility of reviewing all salmon egg sales.

The council has six voting members; two non-Indian fishers, two sport fishers, two Indian fishers, and four legislative members who are nonvoting and serve ex officio.

The council terminated on December 31, 1989.

SUMMARY:

The Salmon Advisory Council's current scope of activity, that of advising the Department of Fisheries on its salmon enhancement facilities program and egg sales, is expanded to include salmon program issues, including an annual review of salmon production, harvest management, and habitat management programs.

The membership of the council is increased from six members to nine members, three representing non-Indian commercial fishers (one troller, one purse seiner, and one gillnetter), three sport fishers, and three Indian fishers.  The director of Fisheries shall convene a meeting of the council at least every three months.

The termination date of the council is extended 10 years from December 31, 1989 to December 31, 1999.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Don Weatherby, Puget Sound Gillnetters' Association; and Ed Manary, WA Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill is compatible with other legislation on regional fisheries enhancement groups.  It creates a forum that allows interaction between users and the Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.