EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Date of Adoption: May 5, 2000.
Purpose: Amend personal use fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500M; and amending WAC 220-56-255.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 75.08.080.
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 regulation is needed to bring state regulations for recreational halibut in conformance to federal regulations. The federal regulations were adopted on March 20, 2000, and modified on May 3, 2000. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 7, 2000, 12:01 a.m.
May 5, 2000
J. P. Koenings
Director
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-56-255, effective 12:01 am on May 7, 2000, until further notice, 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: Open immediately until further notice. Minimum size 32 inches in length. The daily limit is the first halibut 32 inches in length or greater brought aboard the vessel.
(2) Catch Record Card Area 2:
(a) Waters south of the Queets River, north of 47ºN and east of 124º40'W: Open immediately until further notice.
(b) All other open waters in Area 2: Open immediately until further notice, except closed 12:01 a.m. each Friday through 11:59 p.m. each Saturday.
(c) The daily bag limit is one halibut with no length restrictions
(3) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4:
(a) Open immediately until further notice, except closed 12:01 a.m. each Sunday through 11:59 p.m. each Monday and in the closed waters of a rectangle defined by the following four corners: 48º18'N, 125º11'W; 48º18'N, 124º59'W; 48º04'N, 125º11'W; 48º04'N, 124º59'W
(b) The daily bag limit is one halibut with no length restrictions.
(4) Catch Record Cards 5 through 13:
(a) Open May 25 through July 27, 2000, except closed 12:01 a.m. each Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. each Wednesday.
(b) The daily bag limit is one halibut with no length restrictions.
(5) Any halibut landed in a Washington port must meet the regulations in effect for the port of landing, regardless of area of catch. This provision does not apply to halibut lawfully caught in Canadian waters and landed at a port in Washington.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 12:01 a.m. May 7, 2000:
| WAC 220-56-25500M | Halibut--Seasons--Daily limits. (00-60) |