WSR 17-05-043 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 17-21—Filed February 8, 2017, 4:34 p.m., effective February 11, 2017] Effective Date of Rule: February 11, 2017.
Purpose: Amend Puget Sound saltwater recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-62100N and 232-28-62100S; and amending WAC 232-28-621.
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: Washington department of fish and wildlife and tribal comanagers agreed to a limited number of Chinook encounters that anglers are allowed in Marine Areas 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, and 10. This emergency rule is needed to modify these fisheries to stay within the agreed to number of encounters and increasing the possibility of providing season-long fisheries which will provide additional angling opportunity. State and tribal comanagers previously agreed to keep the area closed to wild and hatchery coho retention due to the low number of coho projected to return this year. The comanagers agree there are sufficient numbers [of] hatchery coho in Area 13 to allow the retention of hatchery coho. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 8, 2017.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 232-28-62100T Puget Sound salmon—Saltwater seasons and daily limits.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 232-28-621, it is unlawful to violate the provisions below. Unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect.
(1) Marine Area 6: Effective February 16, 2017, until further notice, daily limit of 2 salmon, no more than 1 Chinook. Release coho and wild Chinook.
(2) Marine Area 7: Closed effective February 11, 2017.
(3) Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2: Effective immediately until further notice, daily limit of 2 salmon, no more than 1 Chinook. Release coho and wild Chinook.
(4) Marine Area 9 (excluding year-round piers): Effective immediately until February 15, 2017, closed. Effective February 16, 2017, until further notice, daily limit of 2 salmon, no more than 1 Chinook. Release coho and wild Chinook.
(5) Marine Area 10 (excluding year-round piers): Effective immediately through February, 28, 2017, closed.
(6) Marine Area 13: Effective immediately until further notice, it is permissible to retain hatchery coho salmon as part of the daily limit.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed effective February 11, 2017:
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. | ||||||||