HB  26-GEODUCK AQUATIC FARMING EXEMPTION                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:02:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR GATTO announced  that the first order  of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE  BILL  NO.  26,   "An  Act  relating  to  aquatic  farm                                                               
permitting  involving  geoducks  and to  geoduck  seed  transfers                                                               
between certified hatcheries and aquatic farms."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:03:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ROSES  moved  to   report  CSHB  26(FSH)  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal notes.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:03:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GUTTENBERG objected  for purposes  of discussion.                                                               
Representative  Guttenberg said  that  it would  be wonderful  to                                                               
have  the  opportunity  to  build  another  industry.    However,                                                               
placing the department and scientists  in a position of proving a                                                               
negative is of  concern.  He questioned the  impacts of expanding                                                               
the geoduck  fishery into areas where  geoducks aren't [naturally                                                               
occurring].  He then withdrew his objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:03:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WILSON objected  for  discussion  purposes.   She                                                               
opined that  there are many  unknowns in this situation,  such as                                                               
in  regard to  sterile  geoducks.   She said  that  she has  some                                                               
reservations.   She then  withdrew her  objection and  noted that                                                               
she won't be voting for the legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:04:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There being no further objection,  CSHB 26(FSH) was reported from                                                               
the House Resources Standing Committee.