Effective Date of Rule: May 1, 2008, 12:01 a.m.

     Purpose: Amend fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500B; 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 conforms to federal action taken by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. There is sufficient recreational quota to provide for these seasons. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: April 28, 2008.

Phil Anderson

for Jeff Koenings

Director

     (a) Catch Record Card Area 1 - Open May 1 until further notice, seven days a week.

     (b) Catch Record Card Area 2 - Open May 1 until further notice, except after May 1, 2008, open to fishing 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Sundays and Tuesdays only.

     (c) Catch Record Area 2 - Those waters from 47°25.00'N. latitude (Queets River) south to 46°58.00'N latitude and east of 124°30.00'W longitude, open May 1 until further notice, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Fridays through Sundays and Tuesdays only.

     (d) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Open May 13, 2008, until further notice, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The following area southwest of Cape Flattery is closed to fishing for halibut at all times:

     Beginning at 48°18' N., 125°18' W.; thence to

     48°18'N., 124°59'W.; thence to

     48°11'N., 124°59'W.; thence to

     48°11'N., 125°11'W., thence to

     48°04'N., 125°11'W.; thence to

     48°04'N., 124°59'W.; thence to

     48°N., 124°59'W.; thence to

     48°N., 125°18'W.; thence to point of origin.

     (e) Catch Record Card Areas 6 through 11 and Catch Record Card Area 13 - Open through June 13, 2008, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays only.

     (f) Catch Record Card Area 5 - Open May 22 through July 21, 2008, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays only.

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

[]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 220-56-25500B

Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily and possession limits. (08-62)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office