WSR 17-10-071

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed May 3, 2017, 10:06 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending coastal Dungeness crab and electronic fish ticket rules.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rule changes relative to the coastal buoy tag program are needed to streamline the program; clarification of rules relative to the transport of coastal Dungeness crab gear from another state are needed to improve efficiency for stakeholders and regulatory enforceability for the Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW); rule changes are needed to consider a broader application of the electronic fish ticket program.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Coastal commercial Dungeness crab is managed by WDFW but includes management coordination with Oregon and California through the Tri-State Dungeness Crab Committee which is facilitated under the umbrella of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Tri-State Dungeness Crab Committee does not have regulatory authority but will be notified regarding changes that affect Oregon and California.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Heather Reed, Intergovernmental Ocean Policy, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, WA 98501, (360) 902-2487, Heather.Reed@dfw.wa.gov. Contact by June 15. Expected proposal filing on or after June 26, 2017.

May 3, 2017

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator