WSR 17-14-013 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 17-135—Filed June 22, 2017, 3:29 p.m., effective June 22, 2017, 3:29 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend recreational bottomfish rules in coastal Marine Areas 1-4.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-23500H and 220-314-02000A; and amending WAC 220-314-020.
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: These emergency rules are necessary to keep recreational catch within federal harvest limits and to conform to rules already approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted changes to the recreational bottomfish harvest limits and fishing regulations for the Washington coast as part of its management process for the 2017 and 2018 bottomfish seasons. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 22, 2017.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-314-02000B Possession limits—Bottomfish.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-314-020, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to violate the following provisions below. Unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect.
(1) Coastal (Marine Areas 1 through 3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line): Limit 9 fish total, except surf perch not included in bottomfish daily limit; all species and species groups of bottomfish may include no more than:
(a) Lingcod: 2 fish limit with no minimum size in Marine Areas 1 through 3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line).
(b) Rockfish: 7 fish in aggregate which can include up to one canary rockfish in Marine Areas 1 and 2.
(2) The daily limit for surfperch is 12.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
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