PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Commercial rules for shrimp fishing.
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: Pot gear escape mechanisms and requirements are no longer consistent with materials available in the industry - modifications will allow compliance with available materials. The creation of a new shrimp district is necessary for timely management of shrimp in a smaller geographic area - this will allow fisheries to occur while managing appropriately for the discrete shrimp beds.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
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 Morris Barker, State Marine Resource Manager, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Contact by June 16, 2003, expected filing date is June 18, 2003.
April 21, 2003
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator