Brief Description: Creating the Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement oversight committee.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Senators Doumit, Oke, Jacobsen, Winsley, Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles).

Hearing Date: 3/28/03

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Program (PSRE) was created by the Legislature in 1993 to increase recreational fishing opportunities for salmon and bottomfish in Puget Sound. The PSRE program requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to produce delayed-release chinook salmon with a production goal of three million fish annually. The DFW is also required to research and develop programs for the artificial rearing and release of marine bottomfish species.

The PSRE program is funded with a portion of each saltwater and combination recreational fishing license fee. Funds are deposited in the recreational fisheries enhancement account and are dedicated solely to the enhancement program.

The PSRE program coordinates with a citizen oversight committee comprised of people representing Puget Sound fishing groups and the sportfishing industry. The citizen committee meets quarterly to review program activities and provide comments and suggestions to the program.

Summary of Bill:

The PSRE Oversight Committee (Committee) is created. The Director of the DFW must appoint at least seven members to the Committee to ensure broad representation from sport fishing organizations. Members of the committee serve two year terms and are not compensated.

The Committee must advise the DFW on all aspects of the PSRE, including the annual budget and proposed annual production of salmon and other species.

Funds in the recreational fisheries enhancement account may not be used to backfill shortfalls in other state funding sources.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.