WSR 15-22-084 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-414—Filed November 3, 2015, 8:59 a.m., effective November 3, 2015, 8:59 a.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-310-18000G; and amending WAC 220-310-180.
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: Washington department of fish and wildlife examined hatchery rack returns, commercial fishery catch and sampling data, test fishery data, and spawning ground data. In-season run size projections from these data suggest that the natural-origin coho run size will be approximately fifty percent of the escapement goal. At that run size, most of the allowable coho impacts have been utilized. Because the run size for 2015 now appears to be far below the preseason forecast, there is a reasoned basis for significantly reducing harvest to ensure the overall harvest rate objective is met. Based on all this information, an in-season modification of the commercial and recreational salmon fisheries is warranted to help ensure that conservation goals are met. This emergency rule corrects an error in [the] WSR 15-22-063 filing.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: November 3, 2015.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-18000I Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Coast.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-310-180, effective immediately until further notice:
(1) Selective gear rules in effect in all Willapa Bay tributaries.
(2) It is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess salmon taken by angling for personal use in Willapa Bay tributaries except:
(a) Naselle River (Pacific/Wahkiakum counties): Open for salmon only from the Highway 401 Bridge to the Crown Mainline (Salme) Bridge. Daily limit 2. Release all salmon except chum and hatchery coho.
(b) Willapa River (Pacific County): Open for salmon only from the Highway 6 Bridge to Fork Creek. Daily limit 2. Release all salmon except chum and hatchery coho.
(c) Fork Creek (Pacific County): Open for salmon. Salmon daily limit 2. Release all salmon except chum and hatchery coho.
(d) North Nemah River (Pacific County): Open for salmon immediately through November 30. Salmon daily limit 1. Release all salmon except chum.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
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