WSR 17-11-072 PROPOSED RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Filed May 17, 2017, 4:21 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 17-02-79 [17-02-079].
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 220-354-290 Grays Harbor salmon fall fishery.
Hearing Location(s): Region 6 Fish and Wildlife Office, Conference Room, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563, on July 10, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: On or after July 11, 2017.
Submit Written Comments to: Scott Bird, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, email Rules.Coordinator@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2155, by July 10, 2017.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Delores Noyes, by July 9, 2017, (360) 902-2349.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These rules incorporate the recommendations of the North of Falcon subgroup of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for taking harvestable numbers of salmon during the commercial salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor, while protecting species of fish listed as endangered.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule will protect salmon species while also supporting commercial salmon fishing in Grays Harbor.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: [WDFW], governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Kim Figlar-Barnes, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563, (360) 249-4628; Implementation: Ron Warren, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, (360) 902-2799; and Enforcement: Chief Chris Anderson, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, (360) 902-2403.
A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
Small Business Economic Impact Statement
1. Description of the Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule: This proposed rule change incorporates the recommendations of the North of Falcon subgroup of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council to take harvestable salmon in Grays Harbor while taking reasonable and prudent measures to protect local salmon and steelhead stocks of concern and nonlocal species of fish listed under the federal Endangered Species Act as threatened or endangered. The rule includes legal gear requirements, area restrictions, and open periods for commercial salmon fisheries occurring in Grays Harbor.
2. Kinds of Professional Services That a Small Business is Likely to Need in Order to Comply with Such Requirements: None, these rule changes clarify dates for anticipated open periods, show areas in Grays Harbor that are closed to commercial harvest methods, and explain legal gear requirements. There are no anticipated professional services required to comply.
3. Costs of Compliance for Businesses, Including Costs of Equipment, Supplies, Labor, and Increased Administrative Costs: The proposed rule changes are similar to the requirements of the rule in previous years and primarily only adjust opening and closing dates. The proposed rule changes do not require any additional equipment, supplies, labor, or administrative costs. Therefore, there are no additional costs to comply with the proposed rules.
4. Will Compliance with the Rule Cause Businesses to Lose Sales or Revenue? The proposed rule changes do not affect the harvestable numbers of salmon available to commercial fisher[s] licensed to fish in Grays Harbor. Therefore, the proposed rule changes should not cause any businesses to lose sales or revenue.
5. Cost of Compliance for the Ten Percent of Businesses That are the Largest Businesses Required to Comply with the Proposed Rules Using One or More of the Following as a Basis for Comparing Costs: The proposed rule changes do not require any additional equipment, supplies, labor, or administrative costs. Therefore, no costs for compliance are anticipated.
6. Steps Taken by the Agency to Reduce the Costs of the Rule on Small Businesses or Reasonable Justification for Not Doing So: Most businesses affected by these rule changes are small businesses. As indicated above, all of the gear restrictions proposed by the rules are identical to gear restrictions WDFW has required in past salmon fishery seasons. Therefore, the gear restrictions will not impose new costs on small businesses.
7. A Description of How the Agency Will Involve Small Businesses in the Development of the Rule: As in previous years, WDFW interacts with and receives input from affected businesses through the North of Falcon process, which is a series of public meetings occurring from February through April each year. These meetings allow small businesses to participate in formulating the agreements underlying these rules. Additionally, WDFW will allow for written public comment and hold a public hearing on these rule changes as required under the Administrative Procedures [Procedure] Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
8. A List of Industries That Will Be Required to Comply with the Rule: All licensed fishers attempting to harvest salmon in the all-citizen commercial salmon fisheries occurring in Grays Harbor will be required to comply with the rule.
A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Kim Figlar-Barnes, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563, phone (360) 249-4628, fax (360) 249-1229, email Kim.Figlar-Barnes@dfw.wa.gov.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These rule proposals do not affect hydraulics.
May 17, 2017
Scott Bird
Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 17-05-112, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17)
WAC 220-354-290 Grays Harbor salmon fall fishery.
From August 16 through December 31 of each year, it is unlawful to fish for salmon in Grays Harbor for commercial purposes or to possess salmon taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except that:
Fishing periods:
(1) Gillnet gear may be used to fish for Chinook, coho, and chum salmon, and shad as provided in this section and in the times and area identified in the chart below.
Gear:
(2) Gear restrictions:
(a) It is permissible to have on board a commercial vessel more than one net, provided that the length of any one net does not exceed one thousand five hundred feet in length. Nets not specifically authorized for use in this fishery may be ((onboard)) aboard the vessel if properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope that is 3/8 (0.375) inches in diameter or greater.
(b) Areas 2A and 2D from October 1 through November 30: Gillnet gear only.
(i) It is unlawful to use set net gear.
(ii) It is unlawful to utilize any object, except the vessel deploying the gear, to impede a gillnet or its attached line or float from drifting.
(iii) Mesh size must not exceed six and one-half inch maximum. Nets may be no more than fifty-five meshes deep.
(iv) It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for salmon if the lead line weighs more than two pounds per fathom of net as measured on the cork line. The lead line must not rest on the bottom in such a manner as to prevent the net from drifting. It is permissible to have a gillnet with a lead line weighing more than two pounds per fathom aboard a vessel when the vessel is fishing in or transiting through Grays Harbor.
(c) Area 2C from October 1 through November 30: Gillnet gear only.
(i) It is unlawful to use set net gear.
(ii) It is unlawful to utilize any object, except the vessel deploying the gear, to impede a gillnet or its attached line or float from drifting.
(iii) Mesh size must not exceed nine inches.
(iv) It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for salmon if the lead line weighs more than two pounds per fathom of net as measured on the cork line. The lead line must not rest on the bottom in such a manner as to prevent the net from drifting. It is permissible to have a gillnet with a lead line weighing more than two pounds per fathom aboard a vessel when the vessel is fishing in or transiting through Grays Harbor.
Other:
(3) Recovery boxes and soak times:
(a) Each boat must have two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers on board when fishing Areas 2A, 2C, and 2D.
(i) Each box and chamber must be operating during any time the net is being retrieved or picked and any time a fish is being held in accordance with (b) and (c) of this subsection. The flow in the recovery box must be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute.
(ii) Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box:
(A) The inside length measurement must be at or within 39-1/2 inches to 48 inches;
(B) The inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches; and
(C) The inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches.
(iii) 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 at 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 department employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river or fresh bay water into each chamber.
(b) When fishing in Grays Harbor Areas 2A and 2D, all steelhead and wild (unmarked) Chinook must be placed in an operating recovery box which meets the requirements in (a) of this subsection prior to being released to the river/bay as set forth in (d) of this subsection.
(c) When fishing in Grays Harbor Area 2C, all steelhead must be placed in an operating recovery box which meets the requirements in (a) of this subsection prior to being released to the river/bay as set forth in (d) of this subsection.
(d) All fish placed in recovery boxes must remain until they are not lethargic and not bleeding and must be released to the river or bay prior to landing or docking.
(e) For Areas 2A and 2D, soak time must not exceed 45 minutes. Soak time is defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gillnet web is deployed into the water until the gillnet web is fully retrieved from the water.
(4) Retention of any species other than coho, chum, hatchery Chinook marked by a healed scar at the site of the adipose fin, or shad is prohibited in Areas 2A and 2D from October 1 through November 30.
(5) Retention of any species other than Chinook, chum, coho or shad, is prohibited in Area 2C from October 1 through November 30.
(6) Quick reporting is required for wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their catch under a "direct retail endorsement." According to WAC 220-352-180, reports must be made by 10:00 a.m. the day following landing.
(7) Report all encounters of green sturgeon to the quick reporting office via phone at 866-791-1280, fax at 360-249-1229, or email at harborfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov. Fishers may have wholesale dealers use the "buyer only" portion of the fish ticket and include encounters with each day's quick reporting.
(8) Do NOT remove tags from white or green sturgeon. Please obtain available information from tags without removing tags. Submit tag information to:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
48 Devonshire Rd.
Montesano, WA 98563.
(9)(a) Fishers must take department observers, if requested, by department staff when participating in these openings.
(b) Fishers also must provide notice of intent to participate by contacting Quick Reporting by phone, fax or email. Notice of intent must be given prior to 12:00 p.m. on October 1, for openings in Areas 2A, 2C, or 2D.
(10) It is unlawful to fish for salmon with tangle net or gillnet gear in Areas 2A((, 2C,)) and 2D unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and has in his or her possession a department-issued certification card.
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