WSR 23-21-013
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 23-223—Filed October 5, 2023, 4:53 p.m., effective October 9, 2023]
Effective Date of Rule: October 9, 2023.
Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to allow purse seine test fishery operations to be conducted by the purse seine vessels listed in the WAC text of this filing, in Puget Sound waters.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-354-120.
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: This emergency rule is needed to allow the purse seine fishing vessels (F/V), F/V Chasina, the F/V Harbor Gem, the F/V Lisa Marie, and the F/V Tradition, to conduct test fisheries in the waters of Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 9, 10, and 11. These test fisheries are necessary to collect GSI [GIS] data to inform the in-season update models and have been agreed to by comanagers. This information is necessary to sustainably manage Puget Sound chum fisheries. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 5, 2023.
Amy H. Windrope
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-12000CPuget Sound salmon—Purse Seine—Open periods.
Effective October 9 through November 27, 2023, the purse seine vessels F/V Chasina, the F/V Harbor Gem, the F/V Lisa Marie and the F/V Tradition may carry out purse seine test fishery operations within Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 9, 10 and 11.
(1) Allowed fishing period is from October 9 through November 27, 2023.
(2) Area 11: Only chum salmon may be retained. All other salmon species must be released. WDFW staff must be onboard vessel while fishing.
(3) Area 9, non-retention fishery: all fish must be released. WDFW staff must be onboard vessel when fishing.
(4) Area 9/10 Apple Cove Test Fishery: Administered by Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission staff. All salmon species may be retained.
(5) Weekly schedule by Area and vessel:
Week | F/V Harbor Gem Apple Cove/Kingston Area 9/10 | F/V Chasina Port Ludlow; Area 9 | F/V Tradition Command Point; Area 11; West Pass | F/V Lisa Marie Point Beals; Area 11; East Pass |
41 | Mon 10/09/2023 | | | |
42 | Mon 10/16/2023 | Wed 10/18/2023 | Mon 10/16/2023 | Mon 10/16/2023 |
43 | Mon 10/23/2023 | Mon 10/23/2023 | Mon 10/23/2023 | Mon 10/23/2023 |
44 | Mon 10/30/2023 | Mon 10/30/2023 | Mon 10/30/2023 | Mon 10/30/2023 |
45 | Mon 11/06/2023 | Mon 11/06/2023 | Mon 11/06/2023 | Mon 11/06/2023 |
46 | Mon 11/13/2023 | Mon 11/13/2023 | Mon 11/13/2023 | Mon 11/13/2023 |
47 | Mon 11/20/2023 | | | |