EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Date of Adoption: September 9, 2003.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-36-023.
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: Notice of intent to participate in the Grays Harbor commercial gill net fishery openings on October 9 and 10, 2003, is required, yet it was inadvertently left out of the permanent rule. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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Repealed 0;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Repealed 0;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Repealed 0.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.
September 9, 2003
J. P. Koenings
Director
by Larry Peck
1) Open Area:
a.) Those waters of Area 2A upstream from the Highway 101 Bridge at Aberdeen to a line projected from the Lakeside Industries asphalt plant tower at a right angle to the thread of the stream to the opposite shore.
b.) That portion of Area 2D north and east of a line projected true south from the 28th Street boat launch to Renney Island then southerly and easterly to "Range Marker G", then to the eastern boundary of Area 2D at the Highway 101 Bridge.
2) Open Fishing periods:
7:00 a.m. October 9 through 3:00 p.m. October 9, 2003
7:00 a.m. October 10 through 3:00 p.m. October 10, 2003
3) Gear:
Gill net gear -- It is unlawful to fish for food fish in Grays Harbor for commercial purposes with gill net gear or to possess food fish taken from those waters with gill net gear unless:
a.) Drift gill net gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear.
b.) 6-inch maximum mesh, no more than 55 meshes deep.
4) Species allowed for retention
Coho and chum salmon and legal sized white and green sturgeon. All Chinook must be released according to the guidelines below (see Miscellaneous Regulations).
5) Miscellaneous Regulations
a.) Soak time shall not exceed 45 minutes. Soak time, defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gill net web is deployed into the water until the gill net web is fully retrieved from the water, must not exceed 45 minutes.
b.) Each boat will be required to have two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers, on board. Each box shall be operating during any time that the net is being retrieved or picked. The flow in the recovery box will be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute. Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box; the inside length measurement must be at or within 39 1/2 inches to 48 inches, the inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches, and the inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water inlet hole between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, centered horizontally across the door or wall of chamber and 1 3/4 inches from the floor of the chamber. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water outlet hole opposite the inflow that is at least 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The center of the outlet hole must be located a minimum of 12 inches above the floor of the box or chamber. The fisher must demonstrate to WDFW employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river/bay water into each chamber.
c.) All chinook, non-legal sturgeon, and steelhead must be handled with care to minimize injury to fish and released immediately to the river/bay or to an operating recovery box.
d.) Any fish that is bleeding or lethargic must be placed in the recovery box prior to being released to the river/bay.
e.) All fish placed in recovery boxes must be released to the river/bay prior to landing or docking.
f.) Quick Reporting is required for wholesale dealers, WAC 220-69-240.
g.) Notice of intent to participate in this fishery is required by 10:00 a.m. October 8, 2003 (use of quick reporting phone, fax, email, or contact Kirt Hughes directly at (360) 249-1213).
h.) Fishers must be willing to take WDFW observers when participating in these openings.
AND
1) Open Area:
Area 2B
2) Open Fishing periods:
6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Daylight Savings Time, 22 October 2003
6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Daylight Savings Time, 23 October 2003
6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, 29 October 2003
6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, 30 October 2003
3) Gear:
Gill net gear -- It is unlawful to fish for food fish in Grays Harbor for commercial purposes with gill net gear or to possess food fish taken from those waters with gill net gear unless:
a.) Drift gill net gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear.
b.) 6 1/2-inch maximum mesh
4) Species allowed for retention:
Salmon and legal sized green and white sturgeon.
5) Miscellaneous Regulations:
a.) Quick Reporting is required for wholesale dealers, WAC 220-69-240.
b.) Fishers must be willing to take WDFW observers when participating in these openings.
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