HOUSE BILL REPORT

HJM 4012

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Lekanoff, Stokesbary, DeBolt, Irwin, Stonier, Chapman, Kilduff, Wylie, Pellicciotti, Orwall, Sullivan, Pettigrew, Peterson, Paul, Slatter, Blake, Shewmake, Tharinger, Doglio, Goodman, Cody, Ormsby, Pollet, Valdez, Callan, Ramos, Leavitt, Stanford, Sells and Appleton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources: 1/15/20, 1/22/20 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Affirms the Legislature's support for recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon (IYS) and the research efforts that are a part of the IYS initiative.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Shewmake, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Dent, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Kretz, Lekanoff, Orcutt, Pettigrew, Ramos, Schmick, Springer and Walsh.

Background:

The International Year of the Salmon (IYS) is an initiative of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) and the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC), with the stated goal to "create awareness and foster understanding of the issues facing wild salmon and their impact on the communities that benefit from the resource." The focal year of the IYS is 2019, with IYS-related activities continuing into 2022.

Activities associated with the IYS include education, research, and outreach. For research activities in collaboration with the scientific community, the NASCO and the NPAFC have identified broad research themes including: understanding the current status of salmon and their environments; natural and man-made factors impacting salmon abundance; new methods and technologies in salmon science; connecting salmon-dependent communities to improve resiliency; and developing information systems to support future research.

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature affirms its support for recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon, and for continued investment in wild salmon recovery.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This joint memorial is being offered in partnership with a Senate colleague, as well as colleagues in the states of Oregon, California, and Alaska, and the province of British Columbia. Additionally, this concept is gaining acknowledgement with treaty tribes. The International Year of the Salmon Initiative will help inform how we can address salmon recovery. The region is facing lots of growth and needs better strategies to preserve salmon as an historic resource of the Pacific Northwest.

(Opposed) None.