PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Limitations on commercial and recreational groundfish landings into Washington ports.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.12.047.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Many of Washington's groundfish species are either under a rebuilding plan or managed under a conservation status and allowing landings from adjacent jurisdictions that provide more liberal fisheries than Washington's requirements for conservation needs is self defeating. This will provide for consistency of allowable landings into Washington ports with the management needs for those identified stocks.
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 Brian Culver, Montesano Regional Office, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563, phone (360) 249-4628, ext. 205. Contact by June 14, 2002, expected filing date is June 19, 2002.
April 30, 2002
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator