PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Commercial fishing for hagfish.
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: The emerging commercial fishery for hagfish has shown to have no bycatch and a stable CPUE. The fishery can, therefore, support the higher pot limit. As a result, the department is proposing to increase the pot limit from 50 to 100.
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 Lew Atkins, Fish Program Assistant Director, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98504-1091, phone (360) 902-2651. Contact by July 20, 2006. Expected proposal filing on or after July 21, 2006.
June 5, 2006
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator