WSR 05-09-025

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 05-65 -- Filed April 12, 2005, 2:38 p.m. , effective April 16, 2005, 12:01 a.m. ]


     

     Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-56-255.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

     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: This regulation is necessary to implement federal rules on halibut seasons. The adoption of state rules is required to provide consistency to state and federal rules regarding halibut fishing. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: April 11, 2005.

J. P. Koenings

Director

by Larry Peck


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-56-25500S   Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily and possession limits.   (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-56-255, effective immediately until further notice it is unlawful to fish for or possess halibut taken for personal use except from the areas or in excess of the amounts provided for in this section:

     (a) Catch Record Card Area 1 - Open May 1 until further notice. By-catch restriction: It is unlawful during any vessel trip to bring into port or land bottomfish except sablefish if the vessel has brought halibut into port or landed halibut.

     (b) Catch Record Card Area 2:

     (i) Those waters south of the Queets River, north of 47º N., and east of 124º40' W. - Open May 1 until further notice.

     (ii) All other waters in Area 2 - Open May 1 until further notice, except closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Friday through 11:59 p.m. of each Saturday.

     (c) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Open May 10 until further notice, except closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Sunday through 11:59 p.m. of each Monday. The following area southwest of Cape Flattery is closed to fishing for halibut at all times:

     Beginning at 48º18'N., 125º18'W.; thence to

     48º18'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48º11'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48º11'N., 125º11'W., thence to

     48º04'N., 125º11'W.; thence to

     48º04'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48ºN., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48ºN., 125º18'W.; thence to point of origin.

     (d) Catch Record Card Area 5 - Open May 26 through July 31, 2005, except closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. of each Wednesday.

     (e) Catch Record Card Areas 6 through 11 and Catch Record Card Area 13 - Open April 14 through June 20, except closed 12:01 a.m. of each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. of each Wednesday.

     (2) Daily limit one halibut.

     (3) The possession limit is two daily limits of halibut in any form, except the possession limit aboard the fishing vessel is one daily limit.

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