WSR 02-18-117

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Filed September 4, 2002, 11:48 a.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: Commercial fishing rules.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.12.047.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Certain coastal bottom fish stocks need additional protection. Implementation of fin fish excluder devices in the shrimp trawl fishery and a closure of trawl fishing for pollock when bottom fish trawl is closed for other species will protect rockfish.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council regulates groundfish, but not shrimp or pollock.

     Process for Developing New Rule:      Agency study.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Phil Anderson, Intergovernmental Policy Special Assistant, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2720. Contact by October 22, 2002. Expected proposal filing October 23, 2002.

September 4, 2002

Evan Jacoby

Rules Coordinator

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