HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSJM 8001

BYSenate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf, Rasmussen, DeJarnatt, Sutherland, Amondson and McMullen)

Requesting that sanctions be brought against foreign nations which harvest Washington state salmon.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; S. Wilson, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bowman, Brooks, Cole, Haugen, Smith, Spanel and Vekich.

House Staff:Robert Butts (786-7841)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 5, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A squid fishery using drift nets occurs in international waters in the northern Pacific Ocean.  According to available information, an estimated 1,000 Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean fishing vessels participate in the fishery, with each vessel fishing 20 to 60 miles of monofilament drift net daily.

In addition to catching squid, the drift nets are also catching considerable quantities of immature salmon and steelhead of North American origin.  It is thought that this high sea catch has dramatically reduced some salmon and steelhead runs along the West Coast.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature respectfully prays that Congress will instruct the Secretary of State to pursue sanctions upon nations who are harvesting Washington State salmon and steelhead on the high seas, and take any other diplomatic measures that will cause a reduction in the interceptions.

Congress also is asked to instruct the Secretary of State to pursue treaties that would establish no-fishing zones in each ocean's international waters so that juvenile fish can freely return to their native waters.  In addition, Congress is asked to instruct the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to fully enforce all fishery regulations, and to fully fund necessary enforcement operations.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Jack Metcalf, Prime Sponsor; Ray Nelson, retired fisherman; Joe Williams, WA State Sportsmen's Council; Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters; and Loren Stern, WA Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    High sea interception of our salmon and steelhead is a major problem and it is critical that it is eliminated if we are to enhance our salmon and steelhead populations.  The nets also are significantly impacting marine mammals and sea birds.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.