SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5913

BYSenators DeJarnatt and Conner

Allowing commercial salmon fishing opportunities in specified rivers.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 27, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5913 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:John Korvell (786-7473)

                  February 28, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Fishing for salmon by other than trolling or angling is unlawful in Washington ocean waters.  These include waters offshore the Quinault Indian Reservation.

Some feel that the offshore troll and angling fishing limitations prevents catch parity between treaty and nontreaty commercial fishermen.  To reach parity, there may be need to allow offshore net fishing for some salmon that return to reservation river mouths.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Fisheries may establish three commercial net fishing areas off the mouths of the Quinault, Queets, and Raft Rivers and may also set seasons for chum and sockeye in these areas.  Net fishermen will need a Grays Harbor-Columbia River commercial salmon fishing gill net license to fish in these three areas.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Department of Fisheries shall, not may, establish three fishing areas off the mouths of the Quinault, Queets, and Raft Rivers.  This will be in a three mile radius of each river mouth.  An emergency clause is added.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 22, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: Toimi Maki, Grays Harbor Gillnetters (pro); Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters (pro); Loren Stern, WDF (pro); Joe DeLaCruz, Quinault Indian Nation (con)