Effective Date of Rule: May 1, 2011.

     Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-56-255.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.

     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 rule conforms to federal action taken by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. The recreational halibut quota is sufficient to provide for these seasons. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: April 19, 2011.

Philip Anderson

Director

     (1) Catch Record Card Area 1 - Open May 5, 2011, until further notice, Thursdays through Saturdays only. It is unlawful during any vessel trip to bring into port or land bottomfish except sablefish or Pacific Cod when halibut are on board.

     (2) Catch Record Card Area 2 - Open May 1, 2011, until further notice, Sundays and Tuesdays only, except closed Tuesday, May 24, 2011; see (i) and (ii) below for additional details.

     (i) Catch Record Card Area 2 (Northern Nearshore fishery) Those waters from 47º31.70'N. latitude south to 46º58.00'N latitude and east of a line approximating the 30 fathom depth contour as defined by the following coordinates, open May 1, 2011, seven days per week until further notice:

     47º 31.70 N. lat, 124º 37.03 W. long

     47º 25.67 N. lat, 124º 34.79 W. long

     47º 12.82 N. lat, 124º 29.12 W. long

     47º 58.00 N. lat, 124º 24.24 W. long

     (ii) Lingcod may be taken, retained and possessed seaward of the 30 fathom line on any day open to the primary halibut fishery as described in (2) above.

     (3) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Open May 12 through May 21, 2011, Thursdays and Saturdays only. The following area southwest of Cape Flattery is closed to fishing for halibut at all times:

     Beginning at 48º18'N., 125º18'W.; thence to

     48º18'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48º11'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48º11'N., 125º11'W., thence to

     48º04'N., 125º11'W.; thence to

     48º04'N., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48ºN., 124º59'W.; thence to

     48ºN., 125º18'W.; thence to point of origin.

     (4) Catch Record Card Area 5 - Open May 26 through June 18, 2011, Thursdays through Saturdays only. However, May 26 through May 29, 2011, open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

     (5) Catch Record Card Areas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 - Open May 5 through May 29, 2011, Thursdays through Saturdays only. However, May 26 through May 29, 2011, open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

     (6) Daily limit one halibut, no minimum size limit. The possession limit is two daily limits of halibut in any form, except the possession limit aboard the fishing vessel is one daily limit.

     (7) All other permanent rules remain in effect.

[]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office