BILL REQ. #:  H-4612.1 

     AN ACT Relating to the role of the department of fish and wildlife in the management of the state wildstock geoduck resource; and amending RCW 79.135.220.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 79.135.220 and 2005 c 155 s 709 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) It is the responsibility of the department ((shall)) to designate the areas of state-owned aquatic lands that are available for geoduck harvesting by licensed geoduck harvesters in accordance with this chapter ((79.90 RCW)).
     (2)(a) It is the primary responsibility of the department of fish and wildlife to:
     (i) Identify commercial geoduck tracks;
     (ii) Conduct all geoduck resource assessments and recovery and mortality rate studies;
     (iii) Set the total allowable catch limits for the harvest of wildstock geoducks from state-owned aquatic lands.
     (b) The department may not substitute information from sources other than the department of fish and wildlife in determining information designated as the responsibility of the department of fish and wildlife by this subsection.