Washington State Spawning Protection Bill

The Washington State legislature is considering Senate Bill 5254, which would prohibit activities that harm or disturb spawning beds of salmon and steelhead and other fish on all rivers and streams where spawning activities occur.

The prohibited activities would include wading on spawning beds, driving motor vehicles on spawning beds, the use of high-powered jet or propeller-driven boats across spawning beds, dragging anchors through spawning beds, digging or removing gravel from spawning beds, or any other physical disturbance capable of disturbing spawning fish or damaging or destroying nests of incubating eggs.

The Bill has been referred to the committee on Natural Resources & Parks. Commercial fishing associations are urging their members to contact committee Chairman Kirk Pearson, 360-786-7676, to request a hearing on SB 5254.