WSR 02-13-044

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 02-123 -- Filed June 12, 2002, 4:29 p.m. ]

     Date of Adoption: June 12, 2002.

     Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500Y; and amending WAC 220-56-255.

     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: This rule is needed to comply with regulations issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service to regulate the halibut fishery in 2002. The final rules were published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2002. The fishery in Areas 3 and 4 will reopen on July 3 as there is a sufficient amount of catch quota remaining in these two areas. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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

June 12, 2002

J. P. Koenings

Director

by Larry Peck


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-56-25500Z   Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily limits.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-56-255, it is unlawful to fish for or possess halibut taken for personal use except as provided for in this section:

     (1) Catch Record Card Area 1: Closed until further notice

     (2) Catch Record Card Area 2:

     (a) Those waters south of the Queets River, north of 47°N lat and east of 124°40'W long - Open immediately through September 30.

     (b) All other open waters in Area 2 - Open immediately through September 30. Closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Friday through 11:59 p.m. of each Saturday.

     (c) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size

     (3) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4: Open 12:01 a.m. July 3 through 11:59 p.m. July 4. The following area southwest of Cape Flattery is closed to halibut fishing at all times: those waters within a rectangle defined by the following four corners: 48°18'N, 125°11'W; 48°18'N, 124°59'W; 48°00'N, 125°11'W; 48°00'N, 124°59'W. The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size.

     (4) Catch Record Card Area 5: Open through 11:59 p.m. July 26. Closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. of each Wednesday. The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size.

     (5) Catch Record Card Areas 6-13: Open through 11:59 p.m. July 12. Closed to fishing for halibut 12:01 a.m. of each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. of each Wednesday. The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size.

     (6) The possession limit is two daily limits of halibut in any form, except the possession limit aboard the fishing vessel is one daily limit.

[]


REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-56-25500Y Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily limits. (02-117)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office