BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to the enhancement of Chinook salmon; adding a new chapter to Title 75 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the Chinook, or king salmon, is the largest and most highly regarded salmon species in the state. It is a premier sport fish and is widely recognized for its superior table qualities. The Chinook provide important fisheries with three distinct stocks: Spring, summer, and fall runs. In addition, immature Chinook provide important blackmouth recreational fisheries.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The director shall consider the hatchery propagation, rearing, and release of Chinook salmon into state waters as the highest priority among department hatchery programs.

Every available viable Chinook salmon egg shall be utilized for increasing the runs of Chinook salmon in state waters. Sale of Chinook salmon eggs by the department, or by volunteer cooperative projects that have received Chinook eggs from the department, shall be prohibited.

The director shall emphasize the rearing of Chinook salmon in hatchery, net pens, and rearing pond facilities that are well adapted to the production of Chinook. Hatchery programs that are poor or marginal producers of other salmon species shall be considered for reprogramming to Chinook salmon production.

The director shall investigate additional locations that are suitable for semi-intensive pen rearing or pond rearing of Chinook salmon, similar to the department's Percival Cove program or Squaxin Island project, and report the findings to the appropriate legislative committees on or prior to December 31, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The director shall take measures that assure proper escapement of Chinook salmon adults occur to natural spawning areas and to hatchery locations. Consideration shall be given to providing extra protection in low or warm water years, or in years or areas with weak run sizes.

Measures are to be taken to improve survival in areas, such as the Elwha river, where unusually high mortality has occurred in adult Chinook salmon prior to spawning. If additional legislative appropriations are needed for these critical improvements, the director shall immediately make a case for increased funding with the governor and legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Salmon tagging information shall be immediately reviewed and analyzed to determine what locations, Chinook salmon stocks, or rearing techniques are most effective in producing resident blackmouth recreational fisheries. The department shall then develop an expanded resident blackmouth production program based on this and the best other information available. The expansion of a blackmouth production program shall have a higher priority than production of other salmon species. Enhanced blackmouth production is especially important in southern Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and in central Puget Sound. Enhancement in these areas will produce increased blackmouth catches in other fishing areas as well, such as north Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Recreational fishers are required to purchase a Chinook salmon recreational stamp in order to fish for Chinook salmon. This requirement is in addition to other catch record and personal use license requirements. The annual fee for a Chinook salmon recreational stamp is twenty dollars.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Commercial fishers are required to purchase a Chinook salmon commercial stamp in order to fish for, sell, or fish for or sell Chinook salmon. This requirement is in addition to other commercial fishing license requirements. The annual fee for a Chinook salmon commercial stamp is five hundred dollars.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Licensed charter boat operators are required to purchase a Chinook salmon charter boat stamp in order to fish for Chinook salmon. This requirement is in addition to other charter boat license requirements. The annual fee for a Chinook salmon charter boat stamp is two hundred fifty dollars.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The revenue generated in sections 5, 6, and 7 of this act shall be deposited in the Chinook salmon enhancement account hereby created in the general fund. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for enhancement of Chinook salmon populations for the purpose of improving catches of Chinook salmon in state-managed fisheries.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 75 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 5, 6, and 7 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1994.