WSR 17-02-079

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 4, 2017, 8:45 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Changes to Washington department of fish and wildlife's (WDFW) coastal commercial salmon fishing rules, resulting from North of Falcon recommendations.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Coastal commercial salmon fishing rules are based on North of Falcon recommendations that change from year to year to reflect resource availability and to achieve conservation goals. Amendments to coastal commercial salmon fishing rules are needed to implement the agree-upon [agreed-upon] changes.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: NOAA Fisheries and the National Marine Fisheries Service. These agencies, as well as WDFW, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and the Pacific Salmon Commission, all provide input and/or take part in the North of Falcon meetings and recommendations.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kirt Hughes, WDFW Fish Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2705, fax (360) 902-2158, email Kirt.Hughes@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by April 11, 2017. Expected proposal filing on or after April 19, 2017.

January 3, 2017

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator