Title of Rule: Commercial fishing rules.

     Purpose: Amend coastal harbor commercial salmon rules.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.

     Summary: Coastal harbor commercial salmon seasons are set each year based on preseason recommendations from the North of Falcon subgroup of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. These are the 2004 seasons.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Provide for commercial salmon harvest opportunity in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay.

     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, 902-2373.

     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: Commercial salmon seasons are set to provide harvest opportunity while providing protection of weak salmon stocks and protection for ESA-listed fish. These rules will allow utilization of the nontreaty commercial share of salmon returning to Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. As the season progresses, adjustments to the harvest schedule will be made by emergency rule. The permanent rule filing provides fishers with an expected schedule.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Amend coastal harbor commercial salmon seasons.

May 19, 2004

Evan Jacoby

Rules Coordinator

OTS-7172.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 03-208, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03)

WAC 220-36-023   Grays Harbor salmon -- Fall fishery.   August 16 through December 31 of each year, it is unlawful to fish for salmon in Grays Harbor for commercial purposes, except that:

Fishing periods

     (1) Gill net gear may be used to fish for coho and chum salmon, and sturgeon:

Time	Areas
((7:00)) 6:00 a.m. October ((9)) 8 through ((3:00)) 6:00 p.m. October ((9)) 8, and	That portion of Area 2A upstream from the Highway 101 Bridge at Aberdeen((.)), and that portion of Area 2D north and east of a line projected due south from the 28th street boat launch to Renney Island then southeasterly to Range Marker G then to the eastern boundary of Area 2D at the Highway 101 Bridge.
((7:00)) 6:00 a.m. October ((10)) 14 through ((3:00)) 6:00 p.m. October ((10, 2003)) 14, 2004

     (a) Drift gill net gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear.

     (b) 6-inch maximum mesh restriction, no more than 55 meshes deep.

     (c) Soak time shall not exceed 45 minutes. Soak time, defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gill net web is deployed into the water until the gill net web is fully retrieved from the water, must not exceed 45 minutes.

     (d) Each boat will be required to have two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers, on board. Each box shall be operating during any time that the net is being retrieved or picked. The flow in the recover box will be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute. Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box; the inside length measurement must be at or within 39 1/2 inches to 48 inches, the inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches, and the inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches. Each chamber of the recover box must include a water inlet hole between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, centered horizontally across the door or wall of chamber and 1 3/4 inches from the floor of the chamber. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water outlet hole opposite the inflow that is at least 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The center of the outlet hole must be located a minimum of 12 inches above the floor of the box or chamber. The fisher must demonstrate to department employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river/bay water into each chamber.

     (e) All chinook, nonlegal sturgeon, and steelhead must be handled with care to minimize injury to fish and released immediately to the river/bay or to an operating recovery box.

     (f) Any fish that is bleeding or lethargic must be placed in the recovery box prior to being released to the river/bay.

     (g) All fish placed in recovery boxes must be released to the river/bay prior to landing or docking.

     (h) Quick reporting is required for wholesale dealers((,)) and fishers retailing their catch under a "direct retail endorsement." WAC 220-69-240.

     (i) Fishers must be willing to take department observers when participating in these openings, and provide notice of intent to participate by contact to the quick reporting phone, fax or e-mail, WAC 220-69-240, by 10:00 a.m. October 7 if intending to fish on October 8, or 10:00 a.m. October 13 if intending to fish on October 14.

     (2) Gill net gear may be used to fish for salmon and sturgeon:

Time	Areas
6:00 a.m. October ((22)) 21 through 6:00 p.m. October ((22)) 21	Area 2B
6:00 a.m. October ((23)) 22 through 6:00 p.m. October ((23)) 22
6:00 a.m. October ((29)) 27 through 6:00 p.m. October ((29)) 27
6:00 a.m. October ((30)) 28 through 6:00 p.m. October ((30, 2003)) 28, and
6:00 a.m. October 29 through 6:00 p.m. October 29, 2004

     (a) Drift gill gear only. Unlawful to use set net gear.

     (b) 6 1/2-inch maximum mesh restriction.

     (c) Quick reporting required for wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their catch under a "direct retail endorsement." WAC 220-69-240.

     (d) Fishers must be willing to take department observers when participating in these fisheries. Notice of intent to participate not required.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-18-004 (Order 03-208), § 220-36-023, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03; 01-13-055 (Order 01-104), § 220-36-023, filed 6/15/01, effective 7/16/01; 00-23-065 (Order 00-240), § 220-36-023, filed 11/15/00, effective 12/16/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 99-24-104 (Order 99-206), § 220-36-023, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-36-023, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-15-148 (Order 97-123), § 220-36-023, filed 7/23/97, effective 8/23/97; 96-13-035 (Order 96-77), § 220-36-023, filed 6/11/96, effective 7/12/96; 95-13-065 (Order 95-76), § 220-36-023, filed 6/19/95, effective 7/20/95; 94-13-014 (Order 94-46), § 220-36-023, filed 6/3/94, effective 7/4/94; 93-14-042 (Order 93-54), § 220-36-023, filed 6/29/93, effective 7/30/93; 90-18-023 (Order 90-77), § 220-36-023, filed 8/24/90, effective 9/24/90; 89-16-056 (Order 89-71), § 220-36-023, filed 7/28/89, effective 8/28/89.]

OTS-7173.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 03-208, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03)

WAC 220-40-027   Salmon -- Willapa Bay fall fishery.   August 16 through December 31 of each year, it is unlawful to fish for salmon in Willapa Bay for commercial purposes or to possess salmon taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except that:

Fishing periods

     (1) Gill net gear may be used to fish for salmon:

Time	Area
6:00 p.m. September ((14)) 17 through 6:00 p.m. September ((26, 2003)) 30, 2004	Areas 2G east of a line ((drawn)) projected true ((north-))south ((through Willapa Bay entrance Day beacon 11, 2M)) from the most waterward exposed end of the rock jetty located near Washaway Beach, 2H west of Willapa Channel Marker 40, 2M, and 2J north of a true east-west line drawn through the North Entrance Marker to the Nahcotta Boat Basin (RF #2)
6:00 p.m. September 21 through 6:00 p.m. September 22 and 6:00 p.m. September 28 through 6:00 p.m. September 29, ((2003)) 2004	Area 2K
6:00 p.m. ((September 28 through 6:00 p.m. October 3 and 6:00 p.m.)) October ((7)) 10 through 6:00 p.m. October ((8, 2003)) 11, 2004	Areas 2G east of a line ((drawn)) projected true ((north-))south ((through Willapa Bay entrance Day beacon 11, 2M)) from the most waterward exposed end of the rock jetty located near Washaway Beach, 2H, 2M, and 2J north of a true east-west line drawn through the North Entrance Marker to the Nahcotta Boat Basin (RF #2)
6:00 p.m. October ((14)) 15 through 6:00 p.m. October ((16)) 17, 6:00 p.m. October ((19)) 18 through 6:00 p.m. October ((21)) 20, and 6:00 p.m. October ((26)) 24 through 6:00 p.m. October ((28, 2003)) 26, 2004	Areas 2G west of a line drawn true north-south through Willapa Channel Marker 10 and east of a line projected true south from the most waterward exposed end of the rock jetty located near Washaway Beach but excluding the area southerly and ((westerly)) easterly of a line from Island Sands Light to Ramsey Point, 2M, and 2J north of a true east-west line drawn through the North Entrance Marker to the Nahcotta Boat Basin (RF #2)
Noon, November ((5)) 6 through noon November 30, ((2003)) 2004	Areas 2G, 2H, 2J and 2M

     (2) The Tokeland Boat basin is closed to commercial fishing during the openings in SMCRA 2G described in this section. The Tokeland Boat basin means that portion of SMCRA 2G bounded on the south by the shoreline of the boat basin, on the west by the seawall and on the north and east by a line from the Tokeland Channel Marker "3" (flashing green, 4-second) to Tokeland Channel Marker "4" to the tip of the seawall.

Gear

     (3) Gill net gear restrictions - All areas:

     (a) Drift gill net gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear.

     (b) ((Prior to September 1, 2003 - No maximum mesh restrictions.

     (c))) September 1 through ((5:59 p.m.)) October ((7, 2003)) 3, 2004 - 6-inch maximum mesh, no more than 55 meshes deep. Net must hang straight from top to bottom. Strings may only be used to secure break away panels.

     (d) October ((7)) 4 through October 31, ((2003)) 2004 - 6-1/2 inch maximum mesh.

     (e) November 1 through November 30, ((2003)) 2004 - 9-inch minimum mesh.

Other

     (4) ((All)) Quick reporting required for wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their ((fish will be required to report their landing by 10:00 a.m. the day following landing. Ticket information can be telephoned in by calling 1-866-791-1280 or faxing the information to 360-664-4689 or e-mailing to harborfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov. Report the dealer name, the purchasing location, the date of purchase, the fish ticket numbers, the gear used, the catch area, total number for each species and the total weight for each species)) catch under a "direct retail endorsement." WAC 220-69-240.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-18-004 (Order 03-208), § 220-40-027, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03; 02-16-021 (Order 02-173), § 220-40-027, filed 7/26/02, effective 8/26/02; 01-13-055 (Order 01-104), § 220-40-027, filed 6/15/01, effective 7/16/01; 00-23-065 (Order 00-240), § 220-40-027, filed 11/15/00, effective 12/16/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 99-24-104 (Order 99-206), § 220-40-027, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-40-027, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-15-148 (Order 97-123), § 220-40-027, filed 7/23/97, effective 8/23/97; 96-13-035 (Order 96-77), § 220-40-027, 6/11/96, effective 7/12/96; 95-13-065 (Order 95-76), § 220-40-027, filed 6/19/95, effective 7/20/95; 94-16-017 (Order 94-61), § 220-40-027, filed 7/21/94, effective 8/21/94; 93-14-042 (Order 93-54), § 220-40-027, filed 6/29/93, effective 7/30/93; 90-18-023 (Order 90-77), § 220-40-027, filed 8/24/90, effective 9/24/90; 89-16-056 (Order 89-71), § 220-40-027, filed 7/28/89, effective 8/28/89.]

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