Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500X; 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: This rule conforms to federal action taken by Pacific Fisheries Management Council. There is sufficient recreational halibut quota to provide for additional fishing in Marine Area 1. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 21, 2007.

Loreva M. Preuss

for Jeff Koenings

Director

     (a) Catch Record Card Area 1 - Open 12:01 a.m. August 24 through 11:59 p.m. August 26, 2007. By-catch restriction: It is unlawful during any vessel trip to bring into port or land bottomfish except sablefish or Pacific Cod if the vessel has brought halibut into port or landed halibut during that trip.

     (b) Catch Record Card Area 2 - Closed.

     (c) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Closed.

     (i) Effective immediately until further notice, on days when halibut fishing is closed in Catch Record Card Areas 3, and 4, unless otherwise provided, it is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish seaward of a line approximating the 20-fathom depth contour as defined by the following coordinates:

     48° 23.9' N.; 124° 44.2' W.

     48° 23.6' N.; 124° 44.9' W.

     48° 18.6' N.; 124° 43.6' W.

     48° 18.6' N.; 124° 48.2' W.

     48° 10.0' N.; 124° 48.8' W.

     48° 02.4' N.; 124° 49.3' W.

     47° 37.6' N.; 124° 34.3' W.

     47° 31.7' N.; 124° 32.4' W.

     (d) Catch Record Card Areas 6 through 11 and 13 - Closed.

     (e) Catch Record Card Area 5 - Closed.

     (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.

[]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative code is repealed:

WAC 220-56-25500X

Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily and possession limits. (07-169)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office