WSR 10-08-078

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 10-73 -- Filed April 6, 2010, 1:53 p.m. , effective April 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: April 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m.

     Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to allow nontreaty commercial fishing opportunity in the Columbia River while protecting fish listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule making implements federal court orders governing Washington's relationship with treaty Indian tribes, federal law governing Washington's relationship with Oregon, and Washington fish and wildlife commission policy guidance for Columbia River fisheries.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-33-01000Z and 220-33-01000A; and amending WAC 220-33-010.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.130, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

     Other Authority: United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546); Northwest Gillnetters Ass'n v. Sandison, 95 Wn.2d 638, 628 P.2d 800 (1981); Washington fish and wildlife commission policies concerning Columbia River fisheries; 40 Stat. 515 (Columbia River compact).

     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: Sets the second commercial mainstem chinook fishing period. An estimated six thousand five hundred chinook remain available for harvest (prerun update). The fishery is restricted through time, area and gear regulations to ensure the fishery remains within catch-balancing and ESA constraints. Season is consistent with compact action of April 5, 2010. The fishery is consistent with the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement, the associated biological opinion, and Washington fish and wildlife commission guidelines. Conforms Washington state rules with Oregon state rules. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.

     Washington and Oregon jointly regulate Columbia River fisheries under the congressionally ratified Columbia River compact. Four Indian tribes have treaty fishing rights in the Columbia River. The treaties preempt state regulations that fail to allow the tribes an opportunity to take a fair share of the available fish, and the states must manage other fisheries accordingly. Sohappy v. Smith, 302 F. Supp. 899 (D. Or. 1969). A federal court order sets the current parameters for sharing between treaty Indians and others. United States v. Oregon, Civil No. 68-513-KI (D. Or.), Order Adopting 2008-2017 United States v. Oregon Management Agreement (Aug. 12, 2008) (Doc. No. 2546).

     Some Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead stocks are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal ESA. On May 5, 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a biological opinion under 16 U.S.C. § 1536 that allows for some incidental take of these species in treaty and nontreaty Columbia River fisheries governed by the 2008-2017 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement. The Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions have developed policies to guide the implementation of such biological opinions in the states' regulation of nontreaty fisheries.

     Columbia River nontreaty fisheries are monitored very closely to ensure compliance with federal court orders, the ESA, and commission guidelines. Because conditions change rapidly, the fisheries are managed almost exclusively by emergency rule. Representatives from the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife convene public hearings and take public testimony when considering proposals for new emergency rules. Washington department of fish and wildlife and Oregon department of fish and wildlife then adopt regulations reflecting agreements reached.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2; 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 2.

     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: April 6, 2010.

Lori Preuss

for Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-33-01000A   Columbia River seasons below Bonneville.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-33-010, WAC 220-33-020, and WAC 220-33-030, it is unlawful for a person to take or possess salmon, sturgeon, and shad for commercial purposes from Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and Select Areas, except during the times and conditions listed:

     1. Mainstem Columbia River

     a) Area: SMCRA 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D only upstream to the I-205 Bridge.

     b) Dates: 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM (4 hours) Wednesday, April 7, 2010.

     c) Allowable Sales: Adipose fin-clipped salmon, white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length), and shad. An adipose fin-clipped salmon is defined as a hatchery salmon with a clipped adipose fin and having a healed scar at the location of the fin.

     d) Sanctuaries: Grays River, Elochoman-B, Abernathy Creek, Cowlitz River, Kalama-B, Lewis-B, Sandy, and Washougal rivers as applicable.

     e) Gear: Drift gill nets only, 4-1/4 inch maximum mesh.

     Monofilament gill nets are not allowed for the 4-1/4 inch mesh. Gill nets that are fished at any time between official sunset and official sunrise must have lighted buoys on both ends of the net unless the net is attached to the boat. If the net is attached to the boat, then one lighted buoy on the opposite end of the net from the boat is required.

     There are no restrictions on the use of slackers or stringers to slacken the net vertically. There are no restrictions on the hang ratio. The hang ratio is used to horizontally add slack to the net. The hang ratio is determined by the length of the web per length of the corkline.

     Net length not to exceed 150 fathoms, except under the following conditions: Tangle nets constructed with a steelhead excluder panel, weedlines, or droppers may extend to a maximum length of 175 fathoms.

     An optional use of a steelhead excluder panel of mesh may be hung between the corkline and the 4-1/4 inch maximum mesh size tangle net. The excluder panel web must be a minimum mesh size of 12 inches when stretched taut under hand tension. Monofilament mesh is allowed for the excluder panel. The excluder panel must be a minimum of 5 feet in depth and must not exceed 10 feet in depth as measured from the corkline to the upper margin of the tangle net mesh as the net hangs naturally from a taut corkline. Weedlines or droppers (bobber type) may be used in place of the steelhead excluder panel. A weedline-type excluder means the net is suspended below the corkline by lines of no less than five feet in length between the corkline and the upper margin of the tangle net. A dropper-type excluder means the entire net is suspended below the surface of the water by lines of no less than five feet in length extending from individual surface floats to a submersed corkline. The corkline cannot be capable of floating the net in its entirety (including the leadline) independent of the attached floats. Weedlines or droppers must extend a minimum of 5 feet above the 4 1/4-inch maximum mesh size tangle net. Tangle nets constructed with a steelhead excluder panel, weedlines, or droppers must have two red corks at each end of the net, as well as the red corks required under miscellaneous regulations.

     Nets not lawful for use at that time and area may be onboard the boat if properly stored. A "properly stored" net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope with a diameter of 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater.

     f) Miscellaneous Regulations:

     24-hour quick reporting is required for Washington wholesale dealers, WAC 220-69-240.

     Soak times, defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gill net web is deployed into the water until the gill net web is fully retrieved from the water, must not exceed 45 minutes.

     Red corks are required at 25 fathom intervals, and red corks must be in contrast to the corks used in the remainder of the net.

     Each boat will be required to have on board two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers. Each box and chamber shall be operating during any time that the net is being retrieved or picked. The flow in the recovery box will be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute. Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box: the inside length measurement must be at or within 39 1/2 inches to 48 inches, the inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches, and the inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches.

     Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water inlet hole between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, centered horizontally across the door or wall of the chamber and 1-3/4 inches from the floor of the chamber. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water outlet hole opposite the inflow that is a least 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The center of the outlet hole must be located a minimum of 12 inches above the floor of the box or chamber. The fisher must demonstrate to WDFW and ODFW employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river water into each chamber.

     All non-legal sturgeon, non-adipose fin-clipped salmon, and steelhead must be released immediately to the river with care and with the least possible injury to the fish, or placed into an operating recovery box.

     Any fish that is bleeding or lethargic must be placed in the recovery box prior to being released. All fish placed in recovery boxes must be released to the river prior to landing or docking.

     As a condition of fishing, owners or operators of commercial fishing vessels must cooperate with department observers or observers collecting data for the department, when notified by the observer of his or her intent to board the commercial vessel for observation and sampling during an open fishery.

     Columbia River tangle net certification: At least one fisher on each boat must have tangle-net certification, which is obtained by attending and completing a WDFW/ODFW sponsored workshop concerning live captive commercial fishing techniques.

     Nothing in this section sets any precedent for any fishery after this spring Chinook fishery. The fact that an individual received a Columbia River tangle net certificate does not entitle the certificate holder to participate in any other fishery. If the department authorizes a tangle-net fishery at any other time, WDFW may establish qualifications and requirements that are different from those established for this season. In particular, the department may consider an individual's compliance with these rules in determining that individual's eligibility to participate in any future tangle net fisheries.

     2. Blind Slough Select Area

     a) Area: Blind Slough and Knappa Slough. From May 3 through June 11, 2010, the lower boundary of the Knappa Slough fishing area is extended downstream to boundary lines defined by markers on the west end of Minaker Island to markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon Shore (boundary used in fall season).

     b) Dates: Open hours 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Monday and Thursday nights from April 15 through June 11, 2010.

     c) Gear: Nets are restricted to 100 fathoms in length, with no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed. 9 3/4-inch maximum mesh.

     d) Allowable sale: salmon, shad, and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of five white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open.

     e) 24-hour quick reporting in effect for Washington buyers.

     3. Deep River Select Area

     a) Area: From the markers at USCG navigation marker #16, upstream to the Highway 4 Bridge.

     b) Dates: Open hours 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Sunday and Wednesday nights from April 14 through June 10, 2010.

     c) Gear: 9-3/4 inch maximum mesh. Nets are restricted to 100 fathoms in length with no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed. Nets cannot be tied off to any stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross the navigation channel.

     d) Allowable sale: salmon, shad, and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of five white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open.

     e) Miscellaneous: Transportation or possession of fish outside the fishing area (except to the sampling station) is unlawful until department staff has biologically sampled individual catches. After sampling, fishers will be issued a transportation permit by agency staff.

     f) 24-hour quick reporting in effect for Washington buyers.

     4. Tongue Point

     a) Area: Tongue Point fishing area includes all waters bounded by a line extending from the upstream (southern most) pier (#1) at the Tongue Point Job Corps facility, through navigation marker #6 to Mott Island (new spring lower deadline); a line from a marker at the southeast end of Mott Island, northeasterly to a marker on the northwest tip of Lois Island; and a line from a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island, westerly to a marker on the Oregon shore. The South Channel area includes all waters bounded by a line from a marker on John Day Point through the green USCG buoy #7 to a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island, upstream to an upper boundary line from a marker on Settler Point, northwesterly to the flashing red USCG marker #10, and northwesterly to a marker on Burnside Island defining the upstream terminus of South Channel.

     b) Dates: Open hours are 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Monday and Thursday nights from April 19 through June 11, 2010.

     c) Gear: In the Tongue Point fishing area, gear restricted to 9-3/4 inch maximum mesh size, maximum net length of 250 fathoms, and weight not to exceed two pounds on any one fathom. In the South Channel fishing area, gear restricted to 9-3/4 inch maximum mesh size, maximum net length of 100 fathoms, no weight restriction on leadline, and use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed.

     d) Allowable sale: salmon, shad, and white sturgeon (43-54 inch fork length). A maximum of five white sturgeon may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that the fishery is open.

     e) Miscellaneous: During April 19 through May 14, transportation or possession of fish outside the fishing area is unlawful until ODFW staff has biologically sampled individual catches. A sampling station will be established at the MERTS dock for the first eight fishing periods. After sampling, fishers will be issued a transportation permit by agency staff. Beginning May 17, fishers are required to call 503-428-0518 and leave a message, including name, catch, and where and when fish will be sold.

     f) 24-hour quick reporting in effect for Washington buyers.

[]

     Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER


     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 5:30 p.m. April 7, 2010:


WAC 220-33-01000Z Columbia River seasons below Bonneville. (10-68)

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective June 12, 2010:


WAC 220-33-01000A Columbia River seasons below Bonneville.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office