EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: Amend commercial use fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-33-010.
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: The select area fisheries (SAFE) in Deep River and Blind Slough/Knappa Slough are part of an on-going BPA funded study to design fisheries in areas outside of the mainstem Columbia River. The increased time (Deep River) and area (Knappa Slough) for the winter/spring of 2006 will allow for additional opportunity to harvest salmon originating from the select areas. Several stocks of salmon have been released from net pens in these select areas to provide for fisheries. All salmon returning to these net pens are harvestable. Impacts to ESA-listed stocks in these fisheries are covered under the biological opinion for the interim management agreement. This rule is consistent with actions of the Columbia River compact hearings of January 26, 2006, and conforms Washington and Oregon state rules. There is insufficient time to promulgate 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 17, 2006.
J. P. Koenings
Director
1. Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area
a) Area: Open waters of Blind Slough extend from markers at the mouth of Gnat Creek located approximately 1/2 mile upstream of the county road bridge, downstream to markers at the mouth of Blind Slough. Concurrent Washington/Oregon waters extend downstream of the railroad bridge
Knappa Slough is open to fishing in all waters bounded by a line from the northerly most marker at the mouth of Blind Slough westerly to a marker on Karlson Island downstream to a north-south line defined by a marker on the eastern end of Minaker Island to markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon shore.
b) Dates:
Winter Season: 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays to 7:00 a.m. Thursdays and 7:00 p.m. Sunday to 7:00 a.m. Mondays from February 22 through March 13, 2006
Spring Season: 7:00 p.m. Mondays to 7:00 a.m. Tuesdays and 7:00 p.m. Thursdays to 7:00 a.m. Fridays from April 20 until June 16, 2006.
Only Blind Slough is open through March 13. After March 13, both Blind Slough and Knappa Slough are open.
During May 1 through June 16, the lower boundary of the Knappa Slough fishing area is extended downstream to boundary lines defined by markers on the west end of Minaker Island to markers on the Karlson Island and the Oregon Shore (fall-season boundary).
c) Gear: 7-inch minimum mesh through March 13 and 8-inch maximum mesh thereafter. Monofilament nets are allowed. Nets restricted to 100 fathoms in length with no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed.
d) Allowable Sales: Salmon, sturgeon, shad. A maximum of three sturgeon (green or white in aggregate) may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each open period.
2. Deep River Select Area
a) Area: From the markers at USCG navigation marker #16 upstream to the Highway 4 Bridge.
b) Dates:
Winter season: 6:00 p.m. Mondays to 8:00 a.m. Tuesdays February 20 through March 14, 2006
Spring season: 7:00 p.m. Mondays to 7:00 a.m. Tuesdays and 7:00 p.m. Thursdays to 7:00 a.m. Fridays from April 20 through June 16, 2006
c) Gear: 7-inch maximum mesh size through March 14, 8" maximum thereafter. Monofilament nets are allowed. Nets restricted to a maximum length of 100 fathoms and no weight restriction on leadline. Use of additional weights or anchors attached directly to the leadline is allowed. Nets cannot be tied off of any stationary structures. Nets may not fully cross the navigation channel.
d) Allowable sale: salmon, sturgeon and shad. A maximum of three sturgeon (green or white in aggregate) may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each open period.
e) Miscellaneous: Transportation or possession of fish outside the fishing area is unlawful. An exception to the rule would allow fishers to transport their catch out of the fishing area with a permit issued by an authorized agency employee after examining the catch.
[]