WSR 06-18-037

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 06-223 -- Filed August 29, 2006, 1:59 p.m. , effective August 29, 2006 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-47-50100U; and amending WAC 220-47-501.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 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: This regulation opens sockeye fishing in Areas 7 and 7A. This regulation also enacts permanent regulation changes arising from North of Falcon agreements made by comanagers. The permanent regulation change package has been filed with the code reviser's office under expedited rule procedures, but the permanent regulation changes are not yet in effect. These emergency rules are necessary to initiate fisheries, which are scheduled to commence before those permanent rules will become effective. These fisheries are not expected to exceed chinook by-catch levels modeled during the preseason process. There is insufficient time to promulgate 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 29, 2006.

J. P. Koenings

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-47-50100V   Puget Sound all-citizen commercial salmon fishery.   Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 220-47 WAC, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take, fish for or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas except in accordance with the open periods, mesh size, areas, species restrictions, notification, and landing requirements set forth in this section, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:


Areas 7 and 7A:

     Purse Seines - Open August 30 - 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

     Gill Nets - Open August 30, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. August 31, 2006

     Reef Nets - Open August 30 - 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.


Areas 7B and 7C:

     Purse Seines - (a) Open in Area 7B and 7C to purse seines during the following hours and dates:

     6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. August 30.

     (i) It is unlawful to retain coho salmon, and any coho salmon caught must be released immediately.

     (ii) It is unlawful to bring salmon aboard a vessel unless all salmon captured in the seine net are removed from the seine net using a brailer or dip net, meeting the specifications in WAC 220-47-325, prior to the seine net being removed from the water. However, small numbers of fish may be brought on board the vessel by pulling the net in without mechanical or hydraulic assistance.

     (iii) The 5-inch strip requirement is not in effect during these openings.

     Gill Nets - Open to gill nets as follows:

Areas Mesh Size Hours Dates
7B and 7C 7" minimum 7:00 p.m. August 29 to 7:00 a.m. August 30.

7:00 p.m. August 31 to 7:00 a.m. September 1


Area 9A:

     Gill Nets - Open to gill nets using 5-inch minimum mesh as follows:

     7:00 a.m. August 29 through 8:00 p.m. October 28

     It is unlawful to retain chum salmon in Area 9A prior to October 1 and unlawful to retain Chinook salmon at any time. Any salmon not to be retained must be released from the net by cutting the meshes ensnaring the fish.


All Other Saltwater and Freshwater Areas: Closed.

     "Quick Reporting" Fisheries:

     All fisheries opened under this section, and any fishery openings under authority of the Fraser Panel for sockeye or pink salmon in Areas 7 and 7A are designated as "Quick Reporting Required" fisheries.

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REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-47-50100U Puget Sound all-citizen commercial salmon fishery. (06-220)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office