WSR 20-08-061
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-53—Filed March 25, 2020, 5:46 p.m., effective March 25, 2020, 11:59 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: March 25, 2020, 11:59 p.m.
Purpose: Amend personal use fishing and shellfish rules.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 220-310-00100A, 220-311-00100A, 220-312-00100A, 220-313-00100A, 220-314-00100A, 220-315-00100A, 220-316-00100A, 220-320-00100A, and 220-330-00100A.
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: The Washington department of fish and wildlife is closing all recreational fisheries under its management statewide as part of an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. This decision to close all freshwater and saltwater fisheries is necessary to comply with Governor Inslee's recent statewide proclamation for all Washingtonians to stay at home for the next two weeks.
The closures of recreational fisheries for fish and shellfish in all waters are in effect until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350. Statewide recreational closures will include fisheries in all marine areas, including Washington's coastal areas and Puget Sound. Columbia River fisheries under Washington's jurisdiction will also be closed, as well as other river fisheries and those in lakes, streams, reservoirs, and beaver ponds throughout the state.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 9, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: March 25, 2020.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-310-00100APersonal-use fisheries—General rules—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fish and shellfish seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-310 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-311-00100APersonal-use fisheries—Marine specific rules—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fishing seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-311 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-00100APersonal-use fisheries—Freshwater specific rules—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fishing seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-312 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-313-00100APersonal-use fisheries—Salmon—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fishing seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-313 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-314-00100APersonal-use fisheries—Halibut and bottomfish—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fish and shellfish seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-314 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-315-00100APersonal-use fisheries—Forage fish—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fish and shellfish seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-315 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-316-00100APersonal-use fisheries—Sturgeon—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fish and shellfish seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-316 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-320-00100AShellfish—Definitions, classifications and general rules—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fish and shellfish seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-320 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-330-00100APersonal-use shellfish—Closure
Effective 11:59 p.m. March 25, 2020 until further notice, or until they expire pursuant to RCW
34.05.350, all recreational fish and shellfish seasons encompassed in Chapter 220-330 WAC are closed.
All emergency rules opening any other fishery in this chapter are hereby suspended until the expiration date of the emergency rule or until further notice.