WA SB5851

Vessel owners may make voluntary donations of $1 or more (in whole dollar increments) for salmon preservation when applying for initial or renewal vessel registration in Washington State

Creates a new "sea lion predation control account" in the state treasury to receive all donations collected through the vessel registration process

Funds may only be used for activities related to preserving salmon levels through management and control of pinniped (sea lion) populations in the lower Columbia River area

Account funds cannot supplant existing funding already received by the Department of Fish and Wildlife or other state agencies for pinniped management

Takes effect July 1, 2026, with various contingent effective and expiration dates tied to other statutory provisions