WSR 16-13-005 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 16-133—Filed June 2, 2016, 9:39 a.m., effective June 4, 2016] Effective Date of Rule: June 4, 2016.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules for the halibut fishery.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500H; and amending WAC 220-56-255.
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: An emergency rule is needed to reopen the recreational halibut fishery in Marine Areas 3 and 4 as there is sufficient quota remaining in Marine Areas 3 and 4 to open the recreational halibut fishery for another day. The recreational halibut quota for the all depth fishery in Marine Area 1 has reached the Pacific halibut quota reserved for this area; there is not enough quota pounds available to open this area for an additional fishing day. This rule conforms to federal action taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the International Pacific Halibut Commission. There is insufficient time to adopt 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: June 2, 2016.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-56-25500I Halibut—Seasons—Daily and possession limits.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-56-255, 220-56-250, and 220-56-230, effective June 4, 2016, until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess halibut taken for personal use, except as provided in this section:
(1) Catch Record Card Area 1 (Nearshore fishery) Those waters shoreward from 46°38.17'N. lat., 124°15.88'W. long., to the WA/OR border at 46°16.00'N. lat., 24°15.88'W. long. (then connecting to the 40 fathom depth contour in Oregon).
(a) Open until further notice, Mondays through Wednesdays.
(b) It is permissible to retain bottomfish while possessing halibut onboard boats in the nearshore area.
(2) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4
(a) Open June 11, 2016.
(b) 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.
(c) It is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish seaward of a line approximating the 20-fathom depth contour, except, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in these areas, it is permissible to retain lingcod, sablefish and Pacific cod seaward of the 20 fathom depth contour as defined by the following coordinates:
48°23.9'N. lat., 124°44.2'W. long.
48°23.6'N. lat., 124°44.9'W. long.
48°18.6'N. lat., 124°43.6'W. long.
48°18.6'N. lat., 124°48.2'W. long.
48°10.0'N. lat., 124°48.8'W. long.
48°02.4'N. lat., 124°49.3'W. long.
47°37.6'N. lat., 124°34.3'W. long.
47°31.7'N. lat., 124°32.4'W. long.
(d) In Marine Area 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line) it is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish seaward of a line approximating 120-feet (20 fathoms), except, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in this area, it is permissible to retain lingcod, and Pacific cod seaward of the 120 feet (20 fathoms) as defined by WAC 220-56-230.
(3) Daily limit one halibut, no minimum size limit. The possession limit is two daily limits of halibut in any form, except the possession limit aboard the fishing vessel is one daily limit.
(4) All other permanent rules remain in effect.
(5) It is unlawful to land halibut in a port within an area closed to halibut fishing.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective June 4, 2016:
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