S-1986.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5933

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senators Snyder, Skratek and Hargrove

Read first time 02/26/93.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Requiring the department of fisheries to construct and operate a razor clam hatchery.

          AN ACT Relating to razor clam hatcheries; adding a new section to chapter 75.24 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the coastal economies of Washington are increasingly dependent on tourism, and that razor clam digging is a significant source of tourist dollars for the coastal region.  The legislature further finds that the parasite Nuclear Inclusion X and domoic acid have plagued this fishery in recent years, with domoic acid causing restricted public access.  The legislature declares that increased research on and artificial supplementation of razor clams will boost access to this fishery and improve the economy of the coastal region.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 75.24 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of fisheries shall construct and operate a razor clam hatchery located at or near the Willapa shellfish laboratory on the Long Beach peninsula.  The functions of the hatchery shall be to:

          (1) Grow razor clams for planting on appropriate coastal beaches including the Long Beach and Grays Harbor beaches;

          (2) Provide information to tourists on razor clams;

          (3) Conduct research on the parasite Nuclear Inclusion X and domoic acid;

          (4) Produce other shellfish species as needed;

          (5) Augment educational programs in the public schools; and

          (6) Make facilities available for university research.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of two hundred twenty-six thousand three hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the state building construction account to the department of fisheries for the purposes of this act.

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