EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Date of Adoption: September 9, 2003.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing regulations.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-40-027.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
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: Harvestable numbers of salmon are available for commercial harvest. These rules are interim until permanent rules take effect.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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Repealed 0;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Repealed 0;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Repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule:
Immediately.
September 9, 2003
J. P. Koenings
Director
by Larry Peck
Fishing periods
(1) Gill net gear may be used to fish for salmon:
| Time | Area |
| 6:00 p.m. September 14 through 6:00 p.m. September 26, 2003 | Areas 2G east of a line drawn true north-south through Willapa Bay entrance Day beacon 11, 2M, 2H and 2J north of a true east-west line drawn through the North Entrance Marker to the Nahcotta Boat Basin (RF #2) |
| 6:00 p.m. September 21
through 6:00 p.m. September
22, and 6:00 p.m. September 28 through 6:00 p.m. September 29, 2003 |
Area 2K |
| 6:00 p.m. September 28
through 6:00 p.m. October 3 and 6:00 p.m. October 7 through 6:00 p.m. October 8, 2003 |
Areas 2G east of a line drawn true north-south through Willapa Bay entrance Day beacon 11, 2M, 2H, and 2J north of a true east-west line drawn through the North Entrance Marker to the Nahcotta Boat Basin (RF #2) |
| 6:00 p.m. October 14 through 6:00 p.m. October 16, 6:00 p.m. October 19 through 6:00 p.m. October 21 and 6:00 p.m. October 26 through 6:00 p.m. October 28, 2003 |
Areas 2G west of a line drawn true north-south through Willapa Channel Marker 10 and east of a line projected true south from the most waterward exposed end of the rock jetty located near Washaway Beach but excluding the area southerly and easterly of a line from Island Sands Light to Ramsey Point, 2M and 2J north of a true east-west line drawn through the North Entrance Marker to the Nahcotta Boat Basin (RF #2) |
| Noon, November 5 through noon November 30, 2003 |
Areas 2G, 2H, 2J and 2M |
Gear
(3) Gill net gear restrictions - All areas:
(a) Drift gill net gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear.
(b) Immediately through 5:59 p.m. October 7, 2003 - 6-inch maximum mesh, no more than 55 meshes deep. Net must hang straight from top to bottom. Strings may only be used to secure break away panels.
(c) 6:00 p.m. October 7 through October 31, 2003 - 6-1/2 inch maximum mesh.
(d) November 1 through November 30, 2003 - 9-inch minimum mesh.
(e) Fishers must be willing to take WDFW observers when participating in these openings.
Other
(4) All wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their fish will be required to report their landing by 10:00 a.m. the day following landing. Ticket information can be telephoned in by calling 1-866-791-1280 or faxing the information to 360-664-4689 or e-mailing to harborfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov. Report the dealer name, the purchasing location, the date of purchase, the fish ticket numbers, the gear used, the catch area, total number for each species and the total weight for each species.
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