BILL REQ. #: S-0733.1
| State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2003 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/23/2003. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.
AN ACT Relating to geoducks; amending RCW 79.96.085; and adding new sections to chapter 79.96 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 79.96 RCW
to read as follows:
The state and federally recognized Indian tribes must provide the
labor and equipment necessary to reseed publicly owned aquatic lands
after a geoduck harvest.
Sec. 2 RCW 79.96.085 and 1990 c 163 s 5 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The department of natural resources shall designate the areas
of aquatic lands owned by the state that are available for geoduck
harvesting by licensed geoduck harvesters in accordance with chapter
79.90 RCW.
(2) The department of natural resources must offer to lease to
private parties aquatic lands that have already been harvested of
geoducks for the purpose of allowing private parties to reseed and
culture geoducks.
(3) A free-floating geoduck is the property of the landowner on
whose property the geoduck alights.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 79.96 RCW
to read as follows:
The department of natural resources shall lease aquatic lands
beyond seventy feet mean low water (0.0. ft.) for geoduck harvesting.