Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering changes to recreational clam and oyster harvest season rules and updates to beach designations according to shellfish pest status.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department must annually amend recreational clam and oyster season rules on some public tidelands in response to shellfish population changes, shifts in recreational effort, conservation issues, and negotiations with treaty tribes and other state agencies. Such amendments are designed to perpetuate shellfish resources while maximizing recreational harvest opportunity. The department must also maintain up-to-date shellfish restricted areas to prevent the spread of pest infestations harmful to shellfish.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington department of health (DOH). The Washington department of fish and wildlife works closely with DOH to close beaches to recreational clam and oyster harvest if there is a risk to public health.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kelly Henderson, phone 855-925-2801, project code: 8163, TTY 1-800-833-6388 OR 711, email ClamOyster101@PublicInput.com, website https://publicinput.com/ClamandOyster, for comments; or Camille Speck, Intertidal Bivalve Manager, 375 Hudson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368, phone 360-302-3030 x313, fax 360-302-3030, email Camille.speck@dfw.wa.gov, for questions.