H-1277.1

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1152


State of Washington	64th Legislature	2015 Regular Session

By House Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Stanford, Dunshee, and Tharinger)

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/15.

AN ACT Relating to the management of forage fish resources; amending RCW 77.32.010; creating new sections; and providing expiration dates.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or department rule, a recreational license issued by the director is required to hunt, fish, or take wildlife or seaweed. A recreational fishing or shellfish license is not required for carp((, smelt,)) and crawfish, and a hunting license is not required for bullfrogs.

(2) A pass or permit issued under RCW 79A.80.020, 79A.80.030, or 79A.80.040 is required to park or operate a motor vehicle on a recreation site or lands((,)) as defined in RCW 79A.80.010.

(3) The commission may, by rule, indicate that a fishing permit issued to a nontribal member by the Colville Tribes shall satisfy the license requirements in subsection (1) of this section on the waters of Lake Rufus Woods and on the north shore of Lake Rufus Woods, and that a Colville Tribes tribal member identification card shall satisfy the license requirements in subsection (1) of this section on all waters of Lake Rufus Woods.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife must collaborate to conduct a survey of the location of surf smelt and sand lance spawning grounds throughout Puget Sound, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

(2) To the extent practicable, the departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife must conduct the survey required under this section utilizing the veterans conservation corps created under RCW 43.60A.150 or the Puget Sound Corps created under chapter 43.220 RCW, with priority given to the selection of veterans from either program.

(3) The results from the survey must be used by the departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife to expand knowledge of documented spawning habitat areas.

(4) The habitat survey required by this section must be completed by June 30, 2017, and the survey results must be made available to the general public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The department of fish and wildlife must conduct a mid-water trawl survey at various depths throughout Puget Sound to evaluate the prevalence of adults of all species of forage fish. The department must integrate the results of the survey into existing Puget Sound ecosystem assessments to assist the department of fish and wildlife in the management and conservation of forage fish species and the species that prey upon them.

(2) The department of fish and wildlife must complete the survey required by this section by June 30, 2017, and the survey results must be made available to the general public.