EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: May 27, 2006, 11:59 p.m.
Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500E; and amending WAC 220-56-255.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
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: The recreational halibut fishery in Marine Area 1 has exceeded its early portion of the Pacific halibut quota. The Pacific Fishery Management Council's catch sharing plan for halibut was revised to split the halibut quota into two portions. There is insufficient time to promulgate 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 26, 2006.
J. P. Koenings
Director
(a) Catch Record Card Area 1 - Closed effective 11:59 p.m. May 27, 2006.
(b) Catch Record Card Area 2 - Closed.
(c) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Closed, except open 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. June 22, and 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. June 24, 2006. The following area southwest of Cape Flattery is closed to fishing for halibut at all times:
Beginning at 48º18' N., 125º18' W.; thence to
48º18'N., 124º59'W.; thence to
48º11'N., 124º59'W.; thence to
48º11'N., 125º11'W., thence to
48º04'N., 125º11'W.; thence to
48º04'N., 124º59'W.; thence to
48ºN., 124º59'W.; thence to
48ºN., 125º18'W.; thence to point of origin.
(i) Effective immediately until further notice, on days when halibut fishing is closed in Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 it is unlawful to fish for or possess rockfish and lingcod seaward of a line approximating the 20-fathom depth contour as defined by the following coordinates:
Beginning at the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, at 48º 23.87' N; 124º 44.17' W
Then to 48º 23.60' N; 124º 44.90' W
Then to 48º 19.10' N; 124º 43.40' W
Then to 48º 18.20' N; 124º 46.40' W (intersection with 3-mile line)
Then follow the 3-mile line south to the Queets River (47° 31.70' N)
(d) Catch Record Card Areas 6 through 11 and Catch Record Area 13 - Open through June 18, 2006, except closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. of each Wednesday.
(e) Catch Record Card Area 5 - Open until further notice, except closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. of each Wednesday.
(f) Daily limit one halibut. The possession limit is two daily limits of halibut in any form, except the possession limit aboard the fishing vessel is one daily limit.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 11:59 p.m. May 27, 2006:
| WAC 220-56-25500E | Halibut seasons -- Daily and possession limits. (06-117) |