WSR 17-17-001 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Filed August 2, 2017, 12:03 p.m., effective August 2, 2017, 12:03 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: This emergency rule will allow nontreaty commercial fishing opportunities in the Columbia River while protecting fish listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule 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 Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-358-030.
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.
Reasons for this Finding: Sets the initial 2017 fall season for nontreaty select area commercial fisheries. The preseason forecast for the Columbia River return of fall Chinook is six hundred thirteen thousand eight hundred fish. This forecast provides harvestable Chinook for commercial purposes. Harvest estimates for the seasons are well within ESA limits and sharing guidelines. The fishery is consistent with the U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement and the associated biological opinion. Conforms Washington state rules with Oregon state rules. Regulation is consistent with compact action of July 27, 2017. 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, 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.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the 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 0.
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 2, 2017.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-358-03000G Columbia River seasons below Bonneville.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-358-030, WAC 220-358-040, and WAC 220-338-050, it is unlawful for a person to take or possess salmon, sturgeon, and shad for commercial purposes from Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and Select Areas, except during the times and conditions listed below:
(1) Deep River Select Area.
(a) Season:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights August 21-September 1
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights September 4-September 23
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights September 25-October 13, 2017
Open hours are 7 PM to 7 AM through September 1, 6 PM to 9 AM from September 4 to 23, and 7 PM to 7 AM thereafter.
(b) Area: The Deep River Select Area. All waters from West Deep River Road bridge at the town of Deep River, downstream to the mouth defined by a line from USCG navigation marker #16 southwest to a marker on the Washington shore. Concurrent-jurisdiction waters extend downstream of the Highway 4 Bridge.
(c) Gear: Gillnets. Maximum mesh size restriction is 9 3/4-inch through September 9 and 6-inch thereafter. Maximum net length is 100 fathoms. No weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed. No nets can be tied off to stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross the navigation channel (WAC 220-20-015(1)).
(2) Tongue Point/South Channel
(a) Season: Monday and Wednesday nights August 28-August 31
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights September 4-October 27, 2017
Open Hours: 7 PM-7 AM through September 8 and 4 PM-10 AM thereafter.
(b) Area: The Tongue Point fishing area includes all waters bounded by a line from a marker midway between the red USCG navigation light #2 at the tip of Tongue Point and the downstream (northern most) pier (#8) at the Tongue Point Job Corps facility, to the flashing green USCG navigation light #3 on the rock jetty at the west end of Mott Island, a line from a marker at the southeast end of Mott Island northeasterly to a marker on the northwest tip of Lois Island, and a line from a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island westerly to a marker on the Oregon shore.
The South Channel area includes all waters bounded by a line from a marker on John Day Point to a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island upstream to an upper boundary line from a marker on Settler Point northwesterly to the flashing red USCG marker #10, northwesterly to the eastern tip of Burnside Island defining the upstream terminus of South Channel.
(c) Gear: Gillnets. 6-inch maximum mesh size. Maximum net length of 250 fathoms. In the Tongue Point fishing area: weight not to exceed two pounds on any one fathom. Fishers participating in the Tongue Point fishery may have un-stored gillnets legal for the South Channel fishing area onboard the vessel. In the South Channel fishing area: no weight restriction on leadline, and use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed.
(d) Miscellaneous: Permanent transportation rules in effect.
(3) Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area
(a) Dates: Monday and Wednesday nights August 28-August 31,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights September 4-October 27, 2017
Open Hours: 7 PM-7 AM through September 8 and 6 PM-10 AM thereafter.
(b) Area: Blind Slough and Knappa Slough areas are both open. The Blind Slough fishing area includes all waters from markers at the mouth of Gnat Creek located approximately 1/2-mile upstream of the county road bridge, downstream to markers at the mouth of Blind Slough. The Knappa Slough fishing area includes all waters bounded by a line from the north marker at the mouth of Blind Slough, westerly to a marker on Karlson Island, downstream to boundary lines defined by markers on the west end of Minaker Island to markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon shore. The area within a 100-foot radius of the mouth of Big Creek is closed.
(c) Gear: Gillnets. 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh. Nets are restricted to 100 fathoms in length with no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights and/or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed.
(d) Miscellaneous: Permanent transportation rules in effect.
(4) Additional requirements for all Select Area commercial fisheries:
(a) Nets not specifically authorized for use may be onboard the vessel if properly stored, consistent with WAC 220-358-010.
(b) ALLOWABLE POSSESSION: Chinook, Coho, Pink and Sockeye salmon, white sturgeon and shad. A maximum of three white sturgeon with a fork length of 44-50 inches may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). The three white sturgeon possession and sales limit includes all Select Area fisheries.
(c) Nets fished any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the end of the net opposite the boat is required.
(5) 24-hour quick reporting is in effect for Washington buyers (WAC 220-353-180).
Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. |