EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-47-31100G and 220-47-41100P; and amending WAC 220-47-311 and 220-47-411.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.
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: Pursuant to the Pacific salmon treaty (January 2009), Fraser River chum levels of less than one million are defined as critical. When run sizes are expected to be below the critical threshold, Canada is required to notify the United States and will conduct only assessment fisheries. When this occurs, commercial fisheries targeting Fraser River chum salmon will be suspended. Canada has determined that the current run size of chum inside Johnstone Strait is one million or less, which indicates a critical level. Commercial fisheries are suspended until further notice. Schedules in Hood Canal Areas 12, 12B, and 12C have been adjusted and agreed upon by the state and affected treaty tribes. There is insufficient time to adopt 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: November 5, 2010.
Joe Stohr
for Phillip Anderson
Director
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(1) Effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes with gill net gear in waters of Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 7, 7A, and Area 12C.
(2) Effective November 8 through November 9, 2010, it is unlawful to fish for or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes with gill net gear in waters of Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 12 and 12B.
(3) Effective November 12, 2010, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., gill nets using 6 1/4 inch mesh may fish in Puget Sound Management and Catch Reporting Areas 12 and 12B.
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The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
| WAC 220-47-31100G | Purse seine -- Open periods. (10-283) |
| WAC 220-47-41100P | Gill nets -- Open periods. (10-283) |