[Order 18-137—Filed June 27, 2018, 2:21 p.m., effective June 27, 2018, 2:21 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules for the halibut fishery.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-314-03000N; and amending WAC 220-314-030.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, and 77.12.047.

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: Recreational catch estimates from the recent halibut opener on June 21 and June 23 indicate that there is sufficient quota remaining to open recreational halibut fishing for one final day on Saturday, June 30, 2018. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: June 27, 2018.

WAC 220-314-03000PHalibut—Seasons—Daily and possession limits.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-314-030, 220-314-040, and 220-314-010, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess halibut taken for personal use, except as provided in this section:

(1) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4:

(a) Open June 30, 2018.

(b) The following area southwest of Cape Flattery is closed to fishing for halibut at all times:

Beginning at 48º18'N., 125º18'W.; thence to

48º18'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

48º11'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

48º11'N., 125º11'W., thence to

48º04'N., 125º11'W.; thence to

48º04'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

48ºN., 124º59'W.; thence to

48ºN., 125º18'W.; thence to point of origin.

(c) In Marine Areas 3 and 4 (west of the Bonille-Tatoosh Line); it is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish seaward of a line approximating the 20-fathom depth contour except, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in these areas, it is permissible to retain lingcod, sablefish and Pacific cod seaward of the 20 fathom depth contour as defined by the following coordinates:

48°23.9'N. lat., 124°44.2'W. long.

48°23.6'N. lat., 124°44.9'W. long. 48°18.6'N. lat., 124°43.6'W. long. 48°18.6'N. lat., 124°48.2'W. long. 48°10.0'N. lat., 124°48.8'W. long. 48°02.4'N. lat., 124°49.3'W. long. 47°37.6'N. lat., 124°34.3'W. long. 47°31.7'N. lat., 124°32.4'W. long.

(d) In Marine Area 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line) it is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish seaward of a line approximating 120-feet (20 fathoms), except, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in this area, it is permissible to retain lingcod, and Pacific cod seaward of the 120 feet (20 fathoms) as defined by WAC 220-314-010.

(2) Catch Record Card Area 5 through 10:

(a) Open June 30, 2018.

(b) It is permissible for halibut anglers to retain Pacific cod caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than 120 feet on days when halibut fishing is open in Areas 5 and 6.

(3) Catch Record Card Areas 11, 12 and 13: Closed.

(4) Daily limit one halibut, no minimum size limit. The possession limit is two daily limits of halibut in any form, except the possession limit aboard the fishing vessel is one daily limit.

(5) It is unlawful to land halibut in a port within an area closed to halibut fishing.

(6) Annual halibut limit is four.

(7) All other permanent rules remain in effect.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:


WAC 220-314-03000N	Halibut—Seasons—Daily and possession limits. (18-117)

Halibut—Seasons—Daily and possession limits. (18-117)