PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Closing a portion of central Puget Sound to commercial fishing.
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: In 2008, the Washington parks and recreation commission created a new artificial reef adjacent to Saltwater State Park in King County. The reef is designed to provide opportunities for recreational divers to observe diverse and abundant marine life at the site. On May 1, 2009, rules will come into effect that will prohibit recreational fishing in this area. This rule-making proposal will extend the same prohibition to commercial fisheries. The prohibition is needed to provide safety to divers by reducing encounters with fishing gear and to increase the enjoyment of diving at the site by increasing the abundance of marine life.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington parks and recreation commission endorsed this proposal at their November 2008 meeting.
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 Greg Bargmann, WDFW Fish Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, fax (360) 902-2944, voice (360) 902-2825, Gregory.Bargmann@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by May 22, 2009. Expected proposal filing on or after June 3, 2009.
March 26, 2009
Lori Preuss
Rules Coordinator