HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5763

BYSenate Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Stratton, McDonald, DeJarnatt, Owen and Barr)

Authorizing the department of fisheries to sell surplus salmon eggs.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson, Basich, Beck, Belcher, Bumgarner, Cole, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, R. King, Meyers, Sayan, Schmidt, C. Smith and Spanel.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 6, 1987

BACKGROUND:

There are 130 volunteer fisheries projects being carried out under the Volunteer Fisheries Resource Program of the Department of Fisheries.  Most of these projects relate to salmon enhancement and to education programs.  Projects include egg boxes, classroom aquariums, net pens, fish planting, small hatcheries, habitat improvement, and scientific projects.  Participants include schools, private individuals, sport fishing groups, Indian tribes, and community groups.  Included in the projects are 65 salmon enhancement projects which make a contribution to the sports, commercial, and tribal catches.

These volunteer cooperative projects may not sell surplus salmon eggs or carcasses on the open market.  Any eggs or salmon carcasses which are excess to the state hatchery egg requirements or cooperative's needs are sold by the department as part of their surplus eggs sales program and the funds go into the General Fund.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Fisheries may authorize the sale of surplus salmon eggs and carcasses by cooperative salmon projects which operate under permits and rules established by the department.  The funds from such sales must defray the expenses of the cooperative project and in no instance shall the project sell quantities of surplus salmon eggs and carcasses that would accumulate a financial profit to the project.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Curt Smitch, Department of Fisheries; Jim Youngren, Glenwood Springs Salmon Enhancement Program; Jerry Pavletich, Trout Unlimited; and Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Tomi Maki, Grays Harbor Gillnetters.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The cooperative fish projects occasionally produce more eggs than are needed for continued reproduction.  Under existing law, egg sale proceeds go to the General Fund.  Fish producers would like to be able to use any proceeds from the sale of eggs or fish carcasses to help defray their costs.  In previous years, one cooperative project gave over 3 million eggs to Fisheries.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      This will encourage the production of more eggs than are necessary.