PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Commercial fishing rules.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 75.08.080.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Gill net gear in the ocean has shown to have an adverse impact on sea turtles and marine mammals. Target species, such as swordfish and thresher shark, can be harvested with troll gear without by-catch mortalities.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The National Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing the pelagic fisheries, and is expected to establish a management plan that includes thresher shark.
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 Division Manager, 600 Capitol Way, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2651. Contact by January 4, 2000, expected proposal filing January 5, 2000.
November 8, 1999
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator