This marketing order is to promote the general welfare of the state and for the purposes of maintaining existing markets or creating new or larger local, domestic, and foreign markets; increasing production efficiency; ensuring a fair regulatory environment; or increasing per capita consumption of Puget Sound gillnet salmon produced in Washington state. The Washington state Puget Sound salmon commodity board is designated by the director to conduct the following programs in accordance with chapter 15.65 RCW:

(1) Establish plans and conduct programs for marketing, labeling, sales, promotion, public relations, and consumer education, or other programs for maintaining present markets or creating new or larger markets for commercially harvested Puget Sound gillnet salmon and salmon products. Such programs shall be directed toward increasing the sale, improving the markets, or promoting Puget Sound gillnet salmon and salmon products without reference to any particular brand or trade name and shall neither make use of false or unwarranted claims on behalf of commercial Puget Sound gillnet salmon products nor disparage the quality, value, sale, or use of any other agricultural commodity. The board may also engage in cooperative efforts in the domestic or foreign marketing of Puget Sound gillnet salmon.

(2) Provide for research in the production, transportation, handling, management, harvest, harvest management, harvest selectivity, harvest regulation or proposed regulation, protection against harvest impact on habitat or other species, processing or marketing of commercial Puget Sound gillnet salmon products and expend the necessary funds for such purposes. Insofar as practicable, such research shall be carried on by experiment stations of Washington State University or the University of Washington, but if in the judgment of the board, said experiment stations do not have the facilities for a particular project or if some other research agency has better facilities therefore, the project may be carried out by other research agencies selected by the board.

(3) Conduct programs for the purpose of providing information and education including:

(a) Marketing information and services for affected producers of Puget Sound gillnet salmon for the verification of grades, standards, weights, tests, and sampling of quality and quantity of Puget Sound gillnet salmon purchased by handlers from affected producers.

(b) Information and services enabling affected producers to meet their resource conservation objectives.

(c) Puget Sound gillnet salmon-related education and training.

(4) Investigate and take necessary action to prevent unfair trade practices and to correct where possible, trade practices which hinder marketing of Puget Sound gillnet salmon products.

(5) Allocation of assessments collected from affected producers shall be made by the board using the following formula:

(a) All operating costs will be borne by all affected producers.

(b) All programs, plans, research, and marketing deemed by the board to be in the collective best interest of all affected producers, regardless of Puget Sound gillnet salmon or salmon product produced, will be borne by all affected producers.

(6) Subject to the provisions of the act, provide information and communicate on matters pertaining to the production, processing, transportation, marketing, or uses of Puget Sound gillnet salmon produced in Washington state to any elected official or officer or employee of any agency.

(7) The director shall approve any plan, programs, and projects concerning:

(a) The establishment, issuance, effectuation, and administration of programs authorized under this section for marketing and promotion of Puget Sound gillnet salmon.

(b) The establishment and effectuation of market research projects, market development projects, or both to the end that marketing and utilization of the affected commodity may be encouraged, expanded, or made more efficient.