EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Date of Adoption: September 9, 2003.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-33-01000I and 220-33-01000J; and amending WAC 220-33-010.
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: Prohibits sale of sturgeon in select areas because the 400 fish guideline for the year has been reached. The select areas are part of an on-going BPA funded study to design fisheries in areas outside of the mainstem Columbia River. Several stocks of salmon have been released from net pens in these select areas to provide for fisheries. All salmon returning to these net pens are harvestable. All fisheries are consistent with the 2003 fall management agreement and the preseason allocation agreement. Rules are consistent with actions of the Columbia River compact on July 30, 2003, and September 8, 2003, and are included in the biological assessment of ESA listed stocks. The biological opinion covering these fisheries has been signed. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent regulations.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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Repealed 0;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Repealed 0;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Repealed 0.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: Blind Slough/Knappa Slough Select Area
Blind Slough fishing area includes all waters from markers at the mouth of Gnat Creek located approximately 1/2 mile upstream of the county road bridge downstream to markers at the mouth of Blind Slough. Concurrent waters extend downstream of the railroad bridge. Oregon State waters extend upstream of the railroad bridge.
Knappa Slough fishing area includes all waters bounded by a line from the northerly most marker at the mouth of Blind Slough westerly to a marker on Karlson Island downstream to boundary lines defined by markers on the western end of Minaker Island to markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon shore. An area closure of about a 100 foot radius at the mouth of Big Creek defined by markers. All waters are under concurrent jurisdiction.
a) SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights immediately through October 31, 2003. Open hours through September 26 are 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily and beginning September 29, the open hours are 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily.
b) GEAR: Gillnet - 9 3/4 inch maximum mesh size prior to September 16 and 6-inch maximum mesh size after September 16. Maximum net length of 100 fathoms. No weight restriction on lead line.
c) ALLOWABLE SALE: Salmon.
2) OPEN AREA: Tongue Point/South Channel Select Area
Tongue Point fishing area includes all waters bounded by a line from the red light at Tongue Point to the flashing green light at the rock jetty on the northwesterly tip of Mott Island, a line from a marker at the south end of Mott Island easterly to a marker on the northwest bank on Lois Island, and a line from a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island due westerly to a marker on the opposite bank. All waters are under concurrent jurisdiction.
South Channel area includes all waters bounded by a line from a marker on John Day Point through the green buoy "7" thence to a marker on the southwest end of Lois Island upstream to an upper boundary line from a marker on Settler Point northwesterly to flashing red marker "10" thence northwesterly to a marker on the sand bar defining the terminus of South Channel. All waters are under concurrent jurisdiction.
a) SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights immediately through October 31, 2003. Open hours through September 26 are 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily and beginning September 29, the open hours are 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily. Only the Tongue Point area is open through September 12 and Tongue Point and South Channel areas are open after September 12.
b) GEAR: In the Tongue Point area the mesh size is restricted to 6-inch maximum mesh. Net length maximum of 250 fathoms, and weight not to exceed two pounds on any one fathom on the lead line.
In the South Channel area the mesh size is restricted to 6-inch maximum mesh. Net length maximum of 100 fathoms, and no weight restriction on lead line.
c) ALLOWABLE SALE: Salmon.
d) MISCELLANEOUS: Participants in the Tongue Point fishery may have stored on board their boats, gill nets with lead line in excess of two pounds per fathom.
3) OPEN AREA: Deep River Select Area
Deep River is open to fishing down river from the town of Deep River to the mouth (a line from navigation marker "16" southwest to a marker on the Washington shore). Concurrent waters extend downstream of the Highway 4 bridge. State waters extend upstream of the Highway 4 bridge.
a) SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights immediately through October 31, 2003. Open hours through September 26 are 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily and beginning September 29, the open hours are 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily.
b) GEAR: Gillnet - 6-inch maximum mesh. Net length maximum of 100 fathoms, and no weight restriction on the lead line.
c) ALLOWABLE SALE: Salmon.
d) OTHER: Quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, WAC 220-69-240.
4) OPEN AREA: Steamboat Slough Select Area
Steamboat Slough is open to fishing in waters bounded by markers on Price Island and the Washington shore, at both upstream and downstream ends of Steamboat Slough. All open waters are under concurrent jurisdiction.
a) SEASON: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights immediately through October 31, 2003. Open hours through September 26 are 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily and beginning September 29, the open hours are 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily.
b) GEAR: Gillnet 6-inch maximum mesh. Net length maximum of 100 fathoms, and no weight restriction on the lead line.
c) ALLOWABLE SALE: Salmon.
d) MISCELLANEOUS: Transportation or possession of fish outside the fishing area is unlawful unless by licensed buyer, except fishers may transport their catch out of the fishing area with a permit issued by an authorized agency employee after examining the catch.
e) OTHER: Quick reporting required for Washington wholesale dealers, WAC 220-69-240.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 220-33-01000I | Columbia River seasons below Bonneville. (03-218) |
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 8:01 a.m. October 31, 2003:
| WAC 220-33-01000J | Columbia River season below Bonneville. |