Effective Date of Rule: May 20, 2008, 11:59 p.m.

     Purpose: Amend fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-25500C; 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: The North Coast (Neah Bay and La Push) recreational halibut fishery is projected

to attain the May portion of the Pacific halibut quota allocated to this area. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 19, 2008.

Phil Anderson

for Jeff Koenings

Director

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

     (b) Catch Record Card Area 2 - Open until further notice, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Sundays and Tuesdays only, except waters from 47º25.00'N. latitude (Queets River) south to 46º58.00'N latitude and east of 124º30.00'W longitude, open until further notice, 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m., Fridays through Sundays and Tuesdays only.

     (c) Catch Record Card Areas 3 and 4 - Effective 11:59 p.m. May 20, 2008, until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess halibut.

     (d) 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.

     (e) 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.

     (f) 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 effective 11:59 p.m. May 20, 2008:

WAC 220-56-25500C

Halibut -- Seasons -- Daily and possession limits. (08-85)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office