S-609                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5292

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Metcalf, DeJarnatt and Benitz

Read first time 1/20/89 and referred to Committee on   Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to a salmon identification program; and adding a new section to chapter 75.08 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of fisheries, in cooperation with the department of trade and economic development, shall develop a salmon retail market identification program for all salmon:  (1) Raised in Washington, or (2) caught in the waters of the state of Washington.  The departments shall work with the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries and the wholesale and retail fish distribution system to establish a workable and cost-effective program to assist the consumer in retail fresh, frozen, or otherwise processed fish purchases.

          The purpose of this section is to give the consumer the choice of purchasing Washington salmon and to give the Washington salmon a premium place in this state's retail grocery stores.