There’s a new effort to ban non-tribal gill nets in Washington’s waters. Over the years there’s been several efforts made to ban gill nets but so far they have all failed. Now, with Southern Resident Orca Whale populations in jeopardy there’s a renewed effort and lots more support.

SB 5617 – 2019-20 already has 24 Washington State Senators sponsoring this bill which should give it the push needed to get it passed through the Washington State Senate. If it passes the senate it should pass the house and get signed by Governor Inslee.

SB 5617, Banning the use of nontribal gill nets Sponsors: Salomon, Braun, Van De Wege, Rolfes, Wilson, L., Rivers, Fortunato, Palumbo, Keiser, Das, Frockt, Randall, Warnick, Hunt, Honeyford, Brown, Cleveland, Saldaña, Nguyen, Darneille, Conway, Pedersen, Wilson, C., Liias

Take Action Today, Save Fish and Save Orcas

If your Senator is not listed above please send an email to your Senator asking that they sign on to SB 5617. If your Senator is one of the sponsors please send a quick email thanking them for sponsoring this important bill. You can find your senator here.

Here’s a link to the bill:

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5617.pdf

A quick read of the bill shows a buy-out process to be completed by Dec. 31, 2022 and effective Jan. 1, 2023 a prohibition on using gill nets as a means of taking salmon in state waters.

This Senate Bill is an excellent start. Many more measures will need to be put into place, such as dealing with the over population of seals and sea lions.