EXPEDITED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Title of Rule: Personal use fishing rules.
Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.
Other Identifying Information: These rules are the result of coordinated action between Oregon and Washington.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Summary: Mid-summer sturgeon closure in Columbia River.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Protection of sturgeon stocks.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Evan Jacoby, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, 902-2930; Implementation: Lew Atkins, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, 902-2651; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, 902-2372.
Name of Proponent: Department of Fish and Wildlife, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The subquota of sturgeon in the Columbia River below Wauna is 18,000 fish. In order to keep harvest at or below this level, it is necessary to close the fishery from mid-July through September of each year. This rule is being proposed as the first year of a three year agreement. The July closure date will be adjusted each year, and, for 2003, will be implemented by emergency rule. The July dates for 2004 and 2005 have not yet been determined.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Amends
sturgeon rule.
THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THE USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Evan Jacoby, Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 , AND RECEIVED BY August 18, 2003.
June 5, 2003
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator
OTS-6416.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 02-53, filed 3/29/02,
effective 5/1/02)
WAC 220-56-282
Sturgeon -- Areas, seasons, limits and
unlawful acts.
(1) It is lawful to fish for sturgeon the
entire year in saltwater and open in freshwater concurrent
with a salmon or gamefish opening unless otherwise provided,
except:
(a) It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon from a floating device May 1 through July 15 downstream from the boating deadline below Bonneville Dam to markers on the Oregon and Washington shores of the Columbia River at Beacon Rock;
(b) It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon inside the south
navigation lock at Bonneville Dam from a marker on the
westernmost point of Robins Island to a marker on the Oregon
mainland shore; ((and))
(c) It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon in those waters of the Columbia River between the upstream line of Bonneville Dam and the lowermost Bonneville power line crossing, except when fishing with hand-casted hook and line gear from the mainland shore downstream of a line from a fishing boundary on the Washington shore approximately three-quarters of a mile below the dam to the downstream end of Cascade Island, thence to the Oregon fishing boundary marker on Bradford Island, located approximately 850 feet downstream from the fish ladder entrance; and
(d) It is unlawful to retain sturgeon taken downstream from the Wauna power lines at River Mile 40 during the period July 10 through September 30.
(2) The daily limit is one sturgeon, with the following size restrictions:
(a) Minimum size 48 inches in length in the Columbia River and tributaries upstream from The Dalles Dam.
(b) Minimum size 42 inches in length in all other state waters.
(c) Maximum size 60 inches in length.
Once the daily limit has been retained, it is lawful to continue to fish for sturgeon in the mainstem of the Columbia River downstream from where the river forms the boundary between Oregon and Washington, provided that all subsequent sturgeon are released immediately.
(3) The possession limit is two daily limits of fresh, frozen or processed sturgeon.
(4) There is an annual personal use limit of ten sturgeon from April 1 through March 31, regardless of where the sturgeon were taken. After the annual limit of sturgeon has been taken, it is lawful to continue to fish for sturgeon in the mainstem Columbia River downstream from where the river forms the common boundary between Oregon and Washington, provided that all subsequent sturgeon are released immediately.
(5) It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon with terminal gear other than bait and single barbless hooks. It is lawful to use artificial scent with bait when fishing for sturgeon.
(6) It is unlawful to fish for or possess sturgeon taken for personal use from freshwater, except the Chehalis River, from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.
(7) It is unlawful to possess in the field sturgeon eggs without having retained the intact carcass of the fish from which the eggs have been removed.
(8) It is unlawful to use a gaff or other fish landing aid that penetrates the fish while restraining, handling or landing a sturgeon.
(9) It is unlawful to fail to immediately return to the water any undersize sturgeon.
(10) It is unlawful to totally or partially remove oversize sturgeon from the water.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-282, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02; 01-06-036 (Order 01-24), § 220-56-282, filed 3/5/01, effective 5/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-282, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-282, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 90-06-026, § 220-56-282, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-282, filed 3/16/89.]