PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Rules on the commercial harvest of geoduck clams.
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: Current rules do not provide enough critical definition for geoduck harvest track boundaries thereby allowing boundaries to fluctuate with tidal height. This fluctuation creates inconsistencies with track survey data on allowable harvest estimates and can lead to overharvest. The rule proposal will correct this tendency.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
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 Lew Atkins, Fish Program Assistant Director, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98504-1091, phone (360) 902-2651. Contact by June 19, 2006. Expected proposal filing on or after June 20, 2006.
March 30, 2006
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator