WSR 98-17-086
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Filed August 18, 1998, 4:55 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Declaring ocean spot prawns an emerging commercial fishery under the Emerging Fishery Act and amending rules to accommodate the changes.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.30.220.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The ocean spot prawn fishery is rapidly developing and creating conditions for an over capitalized fishery on spot prawn stocks of limited productive capability. Putting limits on fishery growth will allow an orderly and economically viable fishery to develop while information is gathered on the stocks and the fishery effort levels appropriate to harvest those 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 Bruce Crawford, (360) 902-2325 or fax (360) 902-2944 by October 20, 1998.
August 18, 1998
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator