During the 1975 legislative session we were successful in amending the personalized license program to include automobiles other than passenger cars—a step which should further enhance our funding. We anticipate that funding will increase from the sale of these license plates each year. They serve as their own advertisement, and as more plates are sold, the exposure to the public increases. We anticipate that within the next few years the funding should reach $150,000 per year—a modest sum to be sure, but nevertheless adequate to establish a viable program.
We have been involved in studies funded through other agencies that involve seabirds. The principal reasons for the studies are not seabirds, but they become an integral part of any analysis that must be made of our saltwater environs. One such study involves a comprehensive status survey of the marine shoreline fauna of Washington. The Department of Ecology has provided the funding as a part of their analysis of resources that may be adversely affected by oil spills and economic development of our shorelines. This study will be the first one designed to comprehensively identify wildlife species associated with our shorelines and will determine the species, their status, location, and habitat. This study will provide a basis for readily identifying visually the results of oil spills and of the economic development of critical habitat areas, and provide sound basic data for use in combating destructive projects in the marine environment.
We are finding that you cannot separate functions of other governmental agencies that deal with marine waters from seabird analysis. Pollution responsibilities, shoreline management, coastal zone management, clam dredging, channel dredging, erosion control, housing development, industrial expansion, shipping port development—to name a few—all must have some effect on our seabird species. Therefore, we must concentrate on obtaining an adequate data base to insure the perpetuation of these valuable marine species.
As I indicated earlier, the Department of Game has not had a special program to manage seabirds in the past, but this should not indicate that we have not assisted in maintaining the seabird resource. Our basic land acquisition program designed for waterfowl enhancement has benefited seabirds. We now own some 15,500 acres of lands, tideland, and marshes bordering the marine waters (including our Skagit and Nisqually holdings) which provide habitat and protection for many seabirds. We also recently acquired 48 acres on Protection Island, designed to protect the nesting area of the rhinoceros auklet. This purchase was an excellent example of how combined efforts of several groups accomplished a nearly impossible goal.
Protection Island had been subdivided for summer home development and many lots had been sold. The developer, however, got caught in the requirements of our Shoreline Management Act with his last subdivision. The uproar caused due to the use of this subdivision by auklets created an atmosphere that made subdivision a real conservation issue. The outspoken critics of the project from the Audubon Society, Fish and Wildlife Service, independent conservationists, and our Department enlisted the aid of Nature Conservancy to negotiate for purchase of this subdivision, and after lengthy negotiations the option was obtained, and the Department purchased the land from the Nature Conservancy with funds provided by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. The area now is destined to be a seabird sanctuary, with limited public viewing and incidental recreation use. This project is an excellent example of the power of cooperative efforts by conservationists to protect a resource.
The State of Washington now has a reasonably good legislative base to insure constructive programs for management of our seabird resource. Our legislative authority lies in State statutes under Title 77. These authorities first provide that the wild birds, wild animals, and game fish of the State are the property of the State and that they shall be preserved, protected, and perpetuated. Any regulations for taking shall be designed so as to not "impair the supply thereof."
The commission also has the authority to classify wild birds. Seabirds, other than hunted species, fall into the category of nongame birds. We also have the authority to regulate the propagation and protection of wild birds, develop rules and regulations for taking them (or to prohibit taking them), and to create game reserves and closed areas where necessary to protect various species. Our authorities also include the obligation to enforce the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the protection of all wild birds.
The Department may also acquire land for habitat and for sanctuaries for nongame birds and may exchange lands for these purposes. We may also enter into agreements with the Federal Government, persons, and municipal subdivisions of the State for all matters relating to propagation, protection, and conservation of all wild birds, and may lease State lands for this purpose.
We believe our authorities are now totally adequate to satisfactorily manage the State's marine bird resources.
In addition to our personalized license plate legislation, which earmarks funds for nongame wildlife, other State laws and programs assist in protection of this resource. One program that has assisted materially in providing funds for habitat acquisition is a bond issue passed by citizens of the State designed to acquire and develop recreational land in the State for public use. Our Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation provides the necessary mechanism for funding of projects, using these bond monies to match Federal funds. Although recreation is a key factor in obtaining funding, it is still possible to acquire key habitat for wildlife and develop a people-use program around the primary purpose for acquisition.