Subject of Possible Rule Making: Octopus fishing rules.

     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 department of fish and wildlife has been asked by the Washington fish and wildlife commission to consider amending octopus fishing rules to respond to fish and wildlife commission assignments, conservation issues, and recommendations by the newly formed Giant Pacific Octopus Advisory Group. The department is considering several options, including changing harvest seasons and/or locations; abolishing octopus fishing; creating new octopus harvest rules; and making no changes to the existing octopus rules.

     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 Lori Preuss, WDFW Enforcement, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2930, fax (360) 902-2155, e-mail Lori.Preuss@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by April 5, 2013. Expected proposal filing on or after April 17, 2013. Updates will be added to the agency's rule-making page at http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/development.html. The Giant Pacific Octopus Advisory Group will meet from February through May 2013. The commission's agenda, which will reflect public meeting dates and locations, can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/minutes.html.

February 13, 2013

Lori Preuss

Rules Coordinator