OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee has signed legislation to help fund wild steelhead conservation through the sale of license plates featuring an image of the state’s iconic fish in the background.

Senate Bill 6200 was requested by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The department collected signatures from more than 4,000 people who expressed interest in buying steelhead specialty license plates when the plates are available next year, said Kelly Cunningham, deputy assistant director of the department’s fish program.

“This steelhead plate has generated a lot of enthusiasm from a wide variety of people,” Cunningham said.

Available in 2017

The steelhead specialty license plates will be available for purchase in early 2017.

The initial price of special wildlife-themed background plates ranges from $54 to $72 depending on the vehicle. The fee is charged in addition to regular license fees.

Sales of the new specialty plate would raise an estimated $200,000 each year.

In much of the state, wild steelhead are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Fish and Wildlife officals said the department is taking several actions to restore those populations to sustainable levels, including measures that guide fisheries management, hatchery operations, monitoring and habitat-restoration programs.

For more information, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-steelheadplates.