EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to allow nontreaty commercial fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting fish listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes, federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon, and Washington fish and wildlife commission policy guidance for Columbia River fisheries.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-33-01000J and 220-33-01000K; and amending WAC 220-33-010.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.130, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
Other Authority: United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546); Northwest Gillnetters Ass'n v. Sandison, 95 Wn.2d 638, 628 P.2d 800 (1981); Washington fish and wildlife commission policies concerning Columbia River fisheries; 40 Stat. 515 (Columbia River compact).
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; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: Reduces the area for the final two late August fishing periods. Chinook landings have been higher than expected, and the stock composition includes an increased proportion of lower river hatchery (LRH) stock. Moving the area upstream of the lower river tributaries will greatly reduce the risk of additional LRH encounters. Impacts to upper-river bright stock remain within expectations. Reduces the weekly landing limit of sturgeon in the mainstem. The seasons are consistent with the 2008-2017 interim management agreement, the 2009 non-Indian salmon allocation agreement and the 2006-2009 sturgeon accord. Salmon and sturgeon are available for harvest during fall season fisheries. The regulation is consistent with compact action of August 24, 2009. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.
Washington and Oregon jointly regulate Columbia River fisheries under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Four Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River. The treaties preempt state regulations that fail to allow the tribes an opportunity to take a fair share of the available fish, and the states must manage other fisheries accordingly. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). A federal court order sets the current parameters for sharing between treaty Indians and others. United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546).
Some Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead stocks are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA. On May 5, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allows for some incidental take of these species in treaty and nontreaty Columbia River fisheries governed by the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement. The Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions have developed policies to guide the implementation of such biological opinions in the states' regulation of nontreaty fisheries.
Columbia River nontreaty fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure compliance with federal court orders, the ESA, and commission guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. Representatives from the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and take public testimony when considering proposals for new emergency rules. WDFW and ODFW then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2; 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 2.
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 25, 2009.
Philip Anderson
Director
1. Mainstem Columbia River
a. SEASON: 8:00 p.m. August 25 to 6:00 a.m. August 26, 2009
8:00 p.m. August 27 to 6:00 a.m. August 28, 2009
b. AREA: SMCRA 1E (Zone 5)
c. GEAR: 9-inch minimum mesh size. Drift gillnets only. Monofilament gear is allowed. Nets not specifically authorized for use in this fishery may be onboard the vessel if properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope with a diameter of 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater.
d. SANCTUARIES: No river sanctuaries applicable
e. ALLOWABLE SALES: Salmon and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of three (3) white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open. The sturgeon possession/sales limit applies to mainstem fisheries and Select Area fisheries. It is unlawful to fail to return immediately to the water any sturgeon taken in excess of any commercial catch or possession limits prescribed by department rule.
2. Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area.
a. SEASON: 7 p.m. August 25 to 7 a.m. August 26, 2009
7 p.m. August 26 to 7 a.m. August 27, 2009
And Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from August 31 through October 30, 2009.
Open hours are 7 PM - 7 AM from August 25 through September 18 and 6 PM - 8 AM thereafter.
b. AREA: Blind Slough and Knappa Slough. An area closure of an approximately 100-foot radius at the mouth of Big Creek is defined by markers. Concurrent jurisdiction waters include all areas in Knappa Slough and downstream of the Railroad Bridge in Blind Slough.
c. GEAR: 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh size. Gillnet. Monofilament gear is allowed. Maximum net length of 100 fathoms. No weight restriction on lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed. Nets not specifically authorized for use in this fishery may be onboard the vessel if properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope with a diameter of 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater.
d. ALLOWABLE SALES: Salmon and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of three white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each vessel participating each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). The sturgeon possession/sales limit applies to mainstem fisheries and Select Area fisheries.
3. Tongue Point/South Channel Select Area.
a. SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from August 31 through October 30, 2009. Open 7 PM - 7 AM from August 31 - September 18 and 4 PM - 8 AM thereafter.
b. AREA: Tongue Point and South Channel. All waters in this fishing area are concurrent jurisdiction waters.
c. GEAR: 6-inch maximum mesh. Gillnet. Monofilament gear is allowed. In the Tongue Point area: Net length maximum of 250 fathoms. Weight not to exceed two pounds on any one fathom on the lead line. Participants in the Tongue Point fishery may have stored onboard their boats gill nets of legal mesh size but with leadline in excess of two pounds per any one fathom. South Channel area: Net length maximum of 100 fathoms. No weight restriction on lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed.
d. ALLOWABLE SALES: Salmon and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of three white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each vessel participating each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). The sturgeon possession/sales limit applies to mainstem fisheries and Select Area fisheries
4. Deep River Select Area.
a. SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights from August 31 through October 31, 2009. Open 7 PM - 9 AM from August 31 through September 19 and 4 PM - 9 AM thereafter
b. AREA: The Deep River Select Area. Concurrent jurisdiction waters extend downstream of the Highway 4 Bridge.
c. GEAR: 6-inch maximum mesh. Gill net. Monofilament gear is allowed. Net length maximum of 100 fathoms and no weight restriction on the lead line. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the lead line is allowed. Nets may not be tied off to stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross the navigation channel.
d. ALLOWABLE SALES: Salmon and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of three white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each vessel participating each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). The sturgeon possession/sales limit applies to mainstem fisheries and Select Area fisheries
5. Quick Report: 24-hour quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, pursuant to WAC 220-69-240. When quick reporting is required, Columbia River reports must be submitted within 24 hours of the closure of each fishing period. This Quick report requirement applies to all seasons described above (Columbia River and Select Areas).
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 220-33-01000J | Columbia River season below Bonneville. (09-176) |
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective November 1, 2009:
| WAC 220-33-01000K | Columbia River season below Bonneville. |