Purpose: Commercial fishing regulations.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-52-050.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 75.08.080.

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: This regulation is necessary for conservation and to maintain consistency between state and federal regulations. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

March 31, 1998

Bern Shanks

Director

WAC 220-52-05000A  Shrimp fishery--Coastal waters. Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-050, effective immediately until further notice it is unlawful in the coastal shrimp fishery to retain or land more than 500 pounds per fishing day of any incidentally taken bottomfish species or species complex, or to retain or land in excess of any daily, vessel, cumulative, or two-month cumulative limit established for the coastal bottomfish catch limits in WAC 220-44-050, whichever is the lesser amount, except that the maximum landing of sablefish taken per vessel trip may not exceed one daily trip limit.

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