Purpose: Commercial fishing regulations.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-24-020.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 75.08.080.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: A harvestable quota or [of] chinook salmon is available for troll fishermen. This regulation is adopted at the recommendation of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and is consistent with federal law. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

May 19, 1998

Larry Peck

for Bern Shanks

Director

WAC 220-24-02000G  Commercial salmon troll. Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-24-010, 220-24-020 and WAC 220-24-030, effective immediately until further notice it is unlawful to fish for or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes with troll gear from those waters west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, the Pacific Ocean and waters west of the Buoy 10 Line at the mouth of the Columbia River from the U.S. - Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon except as provided for in this section:

(1) Effective 12:01 a.m., May 20, 1998 through 11:59 p.m. May 23, 1998 it is lawful to fish for and possess salmon except coho salmon taken from these waters, except for Washington waters in a closed control zone at the mouth of the Columbia River, described as those waters inside a line projected six miles due west from North Head along 46°18'00" N latitude to 124°13'18" W longitude, then southerly along a line 167° true to 46°11'06" N latitude and 124°11'00" W (the Columbia River Buoy) then northeast along the red buoy line to the tip of the south jetty.

(2) No vessel may land or possess more than 75 chinook for the entire four day open period. Vessels may land and deliver more than once but must not total more than 75 chinook.

(2) All salmon taken during this fishery must be sold within 48 hours of each closing and must be sold within the open Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area or in an immediately adjacent closed Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area.

(3) Lawful terminal gear is restricted to lawful troll gear with single point, single shank barbless hooks.

(4) No chinook salmon smaller than 28 inches in total length may be taken or retained in the fishery provided for herein. Except that frozen salmon taken in this fishery may be landed pursuant to WAC 220-20-015.

(5) It is unlawful to fish for or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes with gear other than troll gear.

(6) It is unlawful to land salmon taken south of Cape Falcon in any port north of Cape Falcon, except when the waters north of Cape Falcon are closed. It is unlawful to land chinook taken south of Cape Falcon that are less than 26 inches in length.

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Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.