WSR 08-15-050

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 08-171 -- Filed July 11, 2008, 2:23 p.m. , effective July 11, 2008, 2:23 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500J; and 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 rule conforms to federal action taken by Pacific Fisheries Management Council. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 11, 2008.

J. P. Koenings

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-56-25500K   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 as provided in this section:

     (a) Catch Record Area 1 - Open 12:01 a.m. August 1 through 11:59 p.m. August 2, 2008. It is unlawful during any vessel trip to bring into port or land bottomfish except sablefish or Pacific Cod if the vessel has brought halibut into port or landed halibut during that trip.

     (b) Catch Record Card Area 2 - Closed - except waters from 47º25.00'N. latitude (Queets River) south to 46º58.00'N latitude and east of 124º30.00'W longitude, open until further notice, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.

     (c) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Open only 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. July 26, 2008, except Area 3 and 4 seaward of a line approximating 30 fathoms from the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, south to the Queets River as described by the following coordinates:


     48°24.79'N.lat.;124°44.07'W.long.;

     48°24.80'N.lat.;124°44.74'W.long.;

     48°23.94'N.lat.;124°44.70'W.long.;

     48°23.51'N.lat.;124°45.01'W.long.;

     48°22.59'N.lat.;124°44.97'W.long.;

     48°21.75'N.lat.;124°45.26'W.long.;

     48°21.23'N.lat.;124°47.78'W.long.;

     48°20.32'N.lat.;124°49.53'W.long.;

     48°16.72'N.lat.;124°51.58'W.long.;

     48°10.00'N.lat.;124°52.58'W.long.;

     48°05.63'N.lat.;124°52.91'W.long.;

     47°56.25'N.lat.;124°52.57'W.long.;

     47°40.28'N.lat.;124°40.07'W.long.;

     47°31.70'N.lat.;124°37.03'W.long.;


     (d) Catch Record Card Area 5 - Open through July 21, 2008, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays only.

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

[]


REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-56-25500J Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily and possession limits. (08-156)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office