I quote Greg from WFF:

"That's the title of HB-2055 that was introduced today in the WA Legislature by Representatives Cooper, Upthegrove, Berkey. The Bill received a first reading and then referred to Fisheries, Ecology & Parks. I've pasted the Bill narrative below as an FYI though you can also review it online at http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/bills.cfm. Just type 2205 as the Bill number when you get there.
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AN ACT Relating to protecting the rights of recreational anglers in the marine waters of Washington; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that recreational fishing is one of the most popular outdoor sporting activities in this state. The vast number of individuals who take to the waters of Washington for the purpose of recreational fishing make a substantial contribution to the state and local economy. Recreational fishing also makes a substantial contribution to the quality of life in this state. The legislature further finds and declares that recreational fishers have long demonstrated a conservation ethic through their abidance with fisheries management laws and rules including minimum size requirements, bag limits, seasonal closures, and through the use of non-lethal fishing gear. The legislature further finds and declares that the ocean, bays, and estuaries are some of Washington's most important natural resources. Effective planning, assessment, and management in the conservation of the resources of the ocean, bays, and estuaries are important tools, which must be utilized effectively to protect the marine environment. The legislature further finds and declares that the marine environment can be adequately protected without unnecessarily closing off areas of this state's ocean, bays, or estuaries to recreational fishers. Therefore, the legislature declares the necessity of the enactment of this act to ensure that the fishing public's interest and the interests of the marine environment are both adequately protected.

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:
The marine waters of the state of Washington may not be permanently closed to recreational fishing unless:
(1) There is a clear indication that recreational fishing is the cause of a specific conservation problem and that less severe conservation measures, including but not limited to, minimum size requirements, bag limits, or seasonal closures will not adequately provide for conservation of the affected stocks of fish;
(2) The closed area rules include specific measurable criteria to determine the conservation benefit of the closed area on the affected stocks of fish and provide a timetable for periodic review of the continued need for the closed area at least once every three years;
(3) The closed area is no larger than that which is supported by the best available scientific information as determined by the department; and
(4) Provisions are made to reopen the closed area to recreational fishing whenever the basis for the closure no longer exists.

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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Greg"

Cool, I wonder how this will effect the conservation areas were fishing has been closed permanetly already?

This bill is what is commonly known as the "Freedom to Fish Act". Recreational Fishing Alliance is having this bill introduced all over the country with eight states in the first wave. The senate version should be listed soon in Washington, next few days.

These bills compliment the identical legislation introduced in Washington DC.

I will have a press release to post early next
week.

I will cause the current closures to be reviewed, but it does not mandate that they would re-open. Most or all of the current closures should meet the scientiific criteria specified.

www.freedomtofish.com

Mike - The Senate version "SENATE BILL 6027" is to be introduced tomorrow March 7th by Senators Oke and Doumit.

It seems to be a very well worded bill with good intent but for one thing.

If this is an example of a series of bills to be introduced all over the country then...
why is the WA version confined to marine waters only?

It would seem that similar protection of recreational fishing opportunities should be extended to fresh water areas also.

I guess I should have written coastal states instead of all over the country. As for why marine waters only, there are a few reasons. The most important is that there are many situations where a county or a city may want to close a lake of stream for social reasons rather than scientific reasons, and while we don't nessessarily agree with that, we don't want to be fighting all those battles, we want to get this passed. The real threat right now is no take zones in marine waters and that is what we are addressing.

Some additional comments:

"It is one of the easiest concepts to grasp, the idea of unification of sportsmen, but the hardest to impliment in the real world.

As stated, the least we ask is that you send a letter to your district legislators to let them know we are there... tell them to, "Look out the window and see the face of the future." Send your emails early, and CC a copy to me as I will print them all off and hand deliver them to the respective legislators offices, hopefully the legislators themselves. Then send a second on the date of the rally, as a reminder.

Two minutes of your time is all that is asked, the least you can do. The best you can do is to attend and set an appointment with your legislators after the rally, and bring a couple of non-perishable food items to help feed the hungry.

Many people misunderstand what is trying to be done here... we are not pushing legislation, yet. We are not affecting change, yet. We are just trying to get a showing of unified sportsmen that believe we have been divided long enough and it is hurting us all. To introduce ourselves to our legislators, to remind the public that there is a silent majority out there. We are asking nothing more than to have a good time, learn something you may not have known, and believe that what you do today impacts tomorrow.

I believe strongly in this folks. I know the heart of sportsmen needs to be seen. If I am the only person standing on the lawn of the capitol building, I will do so proudly. Year after year this will continue, until a large enough presence is made to effect change in the legislature, to squash the dictation of the AR groups that threaten us all.

We aren't asking for more, just to protect what we already have.

I respect the purity of the flyfisher. It has been prevelant through many years. Some have called it ego, others have called it conceit, I call it pride. We all have it for the niche of consumptive use we pursue. I am giddy as a school kid when I can get geese and ducks to turn and commit to my call, pheasant hunters get it when their dogs go on point, salmon fishermen get it when that king breaks the surface, flyfishermen get it when that float dips slightly as a big 'bow mouths a midge. We all specialize in the areas we love the most, but that does not make us better than the other, nor does it belittle the others pursuit. Sometimes we get wrapped up too tightly in what we do that we forget we can help the others. We all forget our impact in the other facets of consumptive sports, we forget that those facets need our support for ours to continue. We forget that we are all brothers and sisters in nature, quietly pursuing our chosen love.

Maybe you don't feel the same, maybe you do feel that fishermen are getting "second stringed." Hunters feel the same way, trappers, hounders, falconers... each of us feels the other does not support our area, and therefore will not support others either. So I stand here now, a waterfowler by heart, extending that olive branch. To let you know I WILL support your issues even if you do not support mine, because I see the future of the consumpitve user, and it looks like Australia "

"

Well Said // Well Written. It is about time we join hands to better the resource for all of us outdoor users.