Background:

Citing dwindling recreational fishing opportunities for salmon and marine bottomfish in the Puget Sound, Washington in 1993 created the Puget Sound Recreational Salmon and Marine Fish Enhancement Program (Program) to improve recreational fishing through various means.

Department Responsibilities.

The Program requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) to develop a short-term program of hatchery-based salmon enhancement using freshwater pond sites for the final rearing phase and to solicit support from cooperative projects, regional enhancement groups, and other organizations. The Department must conduct comprehensive research on resident and migratory salmon production opportunities, marine bottomfish production limitations, and methods for artificial propagation of marine bottomfish.

The Department's long-term responsibilities include fully implementing enhancement efforts for Puget Sound and Hood Canal resident salmon and marine bottomfish, identifying opportunities to reestablish salmon runs into areas where they no longer exist, and encouraging naturally spawning salmon populations to develop to their fullest extent. The Department also must fully use hatchery programs to improve recreational fishing.

Improving Fishing.

The Program calls for the Department to develop new locations for freshwater rearing of delayed-release Chinook salmon, with a goal to increase production and planting of delayed-release salmon to three million fish per year by 2000. In addition, the Department must:

coordinate with the Department of Ecology and local governments to streamline the siting process for new enhancement projects and work with the Legislature to develop statutory changes enabling fast processing and granting of permits;
develop a public-awareness program emphasizing economic benefits of the Program;
increase efforts to document the effects of predators on fish resources and explore opportunities to convince the federal government to amend federal law to allow for balanced management of predators, and to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to control predatory birds;
invite Indian tribal fishing interests and non-Indian commercial fishing groups to help develop plans for selective fisheries targeting hatchery-produced fish and minimizing catch of naturally spawned fish;
initiate talks on the feasibility of altering rearing programs of Department hatcheries to achieve higher survival and greater production of Chinook and Coho salmon;
coordinate the sport fishing program with the wild stock initiative to ensure the programs are compatible;
develop plans for increased recreational access to salmon and marine fish resources, including proposals for new boat launching ramps and pier fishing access; and
contract with private consultants, aquatic farms, or construction firms to achieve the highest benefit-to-cost ratio for recreational fishing projects.

Marine Bottomfish Programs.

The Department must research, develop methods, and implement programs for the artificial rearing and release of marine bottomfish species, with primary emphasis on lingcod, halibut, rockfish, and Pacific cod because of their importance in the recreational fishery. The Department also must research to evaluate improved enhancement techniques, hooking mortality rates, methods of mass marking, improvement of catch models, and sources of marine bottomfish mortality as applied to real-world recreational fishing needs.

Assistance from Nondepartmental Sources.

The Department must seek recommendations from people who are experts on planning and operation of programs for enhancement of recreational fisheries and fully use the expertise of the University of Washington College of Fisheries (now known as the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences) and the Washington Sea Grant to develop research and enhancement programs.

Oversight Committee.

The Program is overseen by a seven-member oversight committee (Committee) consisting of members representing sport fishing organizations and is administered by a coordinator (Coordinator).

Account.

A portion of each saltwater and combination fishing license fee is deposited into the Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Account for use on Program projects.

Audit.

The State Auditor's Office in 2010 released an audit of the Department's delayed-release Chinook salmon program, concluding that the Department does not meet the statutory goal to release three million delayed-release Chinook annually because of factors including limited hatchery capacity, water quality problems, and discontinuation of saltwater net pens.

Summary of Bill:

Legislative Intent. The Legislature finds that the sheltered waters of the Puget Sound (those east of the Sekiu River) historically provided citizens with the safest and most convenient access to productive marine recreational fishing. The Legislature also recognizes the economic value in restoring and rebuilding recreational fishing opportunities in Puget Sound for salmon and marine bottomfish, and that the opportunities have declined. The Legislature intends to improve opportunities in the Puget Sound and Lake Washington and increase economic benefits, especially from the winter salmon fishery. The number of angler trips expended in these waters is the measure of fishing opportunity.

Department Responsibilities: The Department and Committee must adaptively manage the Program to maximize benefits to the Puget Sound recreational fishery, consistent with available revenue, State Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) policies, tribal co-manager agreements, and limitations of the Endangered Species Act. The Department's responsibilities are changed, and they include: using a program of hatchery-based salmon enhancement and soliciting support from cooperative projects, regional enhancement groups, and others to improve fishing; conducting comprehensive research on salmon and marine bottomfish production limitations, and methods for artificially propagating depleted marine bottomfish; and facilitating continued fishing opportunity improvement as measured by angler trips expended.

The Coordinator must assist the Committee in developing recommendations for goals and objectives to assess effectiveness of the program. The Director of Fish and Wildlife (Director) and Committee must work together to approve goals and objectives, report to the Commission on goals, reach consensus regarding program activities and expenditures, and make a joint report to the Legislature.

Improving Fishing. The Department must use artificial rearing of salmon to improve fishing. It must seek to develop and implement methods to increase recreational angling opportunities, by means such as:

using salmon artificial rearing techniques;
optimally using hatchery salmon through expanded recreational mark-selective fisheries;
utilizing recreational salmon and marine fish enhancement program funds for catch monitoring;
considering new catch-and-release recreational fisheries using gear and methods known to minimize hooking mortality;
providing public information about angling opportunities and fishing methods.

Marine Bottomfish Programs. The Department may research and implement programs for artificial rearing and release of bottomfish species. A primary emphasis must be on marine bottomfish species of importance in the recreational fishery. The Department may use artificial habitats to restore and mitigate degraded rockfish habitats and enhance recreational opportunities.

Assistance from Nondepartmental Sources. The Department may seek recommendations from outside sources, such as the University of Washington.

Oversight Committee. Members of the Committee must represent sport-fishing interests.

Provisions Repealed. Provisions are repealed relating to: (1) freshwater rearing of delayed-release Chinook salmon; (2) additional Department research into information that can be applied to real-world recreational fishing needs; (3) siting processes for enhancement projects; (4) public awareness of the Program; (5) management of predators; (6) participation by fishing interests in plans to target hatchery-produced fish; (7) coordination of sport fishing programs with wild stock initiatives; (8) increased recreational access to salmon and marine fish resources; (9) and contracting with private entities to reduce costs of recreational fishing projects.