_______________________________________________
SECOND
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6264
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AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed
Legislature - 1998 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/05/98.
Providing
for the mass marking of chinook salmon.
AN
ACT Relating to mass marking of chinook salmon; amending RCW 75.08.510; and
creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that mass marking of hatchery-raised salmon is an effective
tool for implementing selective salmon fisheries in this state. Mass marking
of coho salmon is currently underway and holds great promise for maintaining
both recreational and commercial fishing opportunities while protecting wild
stocks. In view of the anticipated listing of Puget Sound chinook salmon as
endangered under the federal endangered species act, the legislature finds that
it is essential to expeditiously proceed with implementing a mass marking program
for chinook salmon in Puget Sound and elsewhere in the state.
Through
a cooperative effort by state and federal agencies and private enterprise,
appropriate technologies have been developed for marking chinook salmon. It is
the intent of the legislature to use these newly developed tools to implement
chinook salmon mass marking beginning in April 1999.
Sec.
2. RCW
75.08.510 and 1995 c 372 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
The
department shall mark appropriate coho salmon that are released from department
operated hatcheries and rearing ponds in such a manner that the fish are
externally recognizable as hatchery origin salmon by fishers for the purpose of
maximized catch while sustaining wild and hatchery reproduction.
The
department shall mark all appropriate chinook salmon targeted for contribution
to the Washington catch that are released from department operated hatcheries
and rearing ponds in such a manner that the fish are externally recognizable as
hatchery origin salmon by fishers.
The
goal of the marking program is: (1) The annual marking by June 30,
1997, of all appropriate hatchery origin ((chinook and)) coho salmon
produced by the department with marking to begin with the 1994 Puget Sound coho
brood; and (2) the annual marking by June 30, 1999, of all appropriate
hatchery origin chinook salmon produced by the department with marking to begin
with the 1998 chinook brood. The department may experiment with different
methods for marking hatchery salmon with the primary objective of maximum
survival of hatchery marked fish, maximum contribution to fisheries, and
minimum cost consistent with the other goals.
The
department shall coordinate with other entities that are producing hatchery
chinook and coho salmon for release into public waters to enable the broadest
application of the marking program to all hatchery produced chinook and coho
salmon. The department shall work with the treaty Indian tribes in order to
reach mutual agreement on the implementation of the mass marking program. The
department shall report to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1,
1999, on the progress made in reaching mutual agreement with the treaty Indian
tribes and any Pacific coast state or province to achieve the goal of
coast-wide marking of chinook and coho salmon. The ultimate goal of the
program is the coast-wide marking of appropriate hatchery origin chinook and
coho salmon, and the protection of all wild chinook and coho salmon, where
appropriate.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. If
specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or
chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1998, in the omnibus appropriations
act, this act is null and void.
