WSR 18-17-053
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 18-193—Filed August 8, 2018, 3:54 p.m., effective August 9, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: August 9, 2018.
Purpose: Amends Puget Sound commercial salmon fisheries for Areas 7 and 7A.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-354-12000C, 220-354-16000C and 220-354-18000C; and amending WAC 220-354-120, 220-354-160, and 220-354-180.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, and 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 emergency rule is needed to provide for Pacific Salmon Commission authorized commercial fisheries in Puget Sound Management and Catch Reporting Areas 7 and 7A. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 3, Amended 0, Repealed 3.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 8, 2018.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-12000CPuget Sound salmonPurse seineOpen periods.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-354-120, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas except in accordance with the open periods, mesh size, areas, species restrictions, notification, and landing requirements set forth in this section, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Purse Seines - Open to purse seine gear according to the times, dates, and conditions as prescribed and listed below:
Hours
Dates
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
August 9
(a) It is unlawful to retain Chinook, coho and chum.
(b) Purse seine are required to brail and fishers must also use a recovery box in compliance with WAC 220-354-100 (7)(a) through (f).
(c) All salmon and rockfish must be immediately sorted, and those required to be released must be placed in an operating recovery box or released into the water before the next brail may be brought on the deck. However, small numbers of fish may be brought on board the vessel by pulling the net in without mechanical or hydraulic assistance.
(d) It is unlawful to fish for salmon with purse seine gear in Areas 7 and 7A unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and is in possession of a department issued certification card.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-16000CPuget Sound salmonGillnetOpen periods.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-354-160, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas except in accordance with the open periods, mesh size, areas, species restrictions, notification, and landing requirements set forth in this section, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Gill Nets - Open to gill net gear with 5 inch minimum and 5 1/2 inch maximum mesh size according to the times, dates, and conditions as prescribed and listed here:
Hours
Dates
8:00 AM - 11:59 PM
August 9
(a) It is unlawful to retain rockfish.
(b) It is unlawful to fish for salmon with gill net gear in Areas 7 and 7A unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and is in possession of a department issued certification card.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-18000CPuget Sound salmonReef netOpen periods.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-354-180, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess salmon taken for commercial purposes in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas except in accordance with the open periods, mesh size, areas, species restrictions, notification, and landing requirements set forth in this section, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
(1) Reef Nets - Open to reef net gear according to the times, dates, and conditions as prescribed and listed here:
Hours
Dates
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
August 9
(a) It is unlawful to retain unmarked Chinook, unmarked coho, and chum.
(b) It is unlawful to retain marked Chinook unless the reef net operator is in immediate possession of a Puget Sound Reef Net Logbook. All retained marked Chinook must be recorded in the log book in accordance with requirements of WAC 220-354-180.
(c) It is unlawful to fish for salmon with reef net gear in Areas 7 and 7A unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and is in immediate possession of a department issued certification card.
(4) "Quick Reporting Fisheries":
All fisheries opened under this section, and any fishery opening under authority of the Fraser Panel for sockeye in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas (WAC 220-301-030), are designated as "Quick Reporting Required" per WAC 220-352-325 Puget Sound salmon and sturgeonAdditional reporting requirements and WAC 220-354-090 Puget Sound salmonQuick reporting.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed effective August 10, 2018:
WAC 220-354-12000C
Puget Sound purse seinesOpen periods.
WAC 220-354-16000C
Puget Sound gill netsOpen periods
WAC 220-354-18000C
Puget Sound reef netsOpen periods.