Electronic Fish Receiving Tickets The Department is considering allowing commercial purchasers and receivers to use electronic fish tickets even if the purchasers and receivers do not participate in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Shoreside Individual Fishing Quota Program.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by June 11, 2013
Written comments may be e-mailed to: Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov
or mailed to: Wildlife Program Commission Public Comments, WDFW, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Fax: 360-902-2155
A public hearing will take place on June 21, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Natural Resources Building, Commission Office
1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, Washington 98501
Waterfowl Seasons and Regulations Department staff is considering amending rules regarding the Waterfowl seasons and regulations.
Giant Pacific Octopus for 2013 The department is considering amending the following rules related to octopus harvesting: octopus fishing rules; harvest seasons; harvest locations; species available for harvest; marine protected areas; marine fish and shellfish and personal use fishery.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by May 31, 2013
Written comments may be submitted online. Click here.
or mailed to: Lori Preuss, Rules Coordinator, WDFW 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Fax: 360-902-2155
A public hearing will take place on June 7-8, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Natural Resources Building, Room 172
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98501
WAC 232-12-275 Wildlife rehabilitation structural improvements and updates This rule making updates and makes structural improvements to WAC 232-12-275. Specifically, the project splits the rule into smaller sections and better organizes the subject matter of the provisions contained in WAC 232-12-275. The project will also make some clarifications and amendments to include more detail and guidance for people practicing wildlife rehabilitation.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by May 24, 2013
Written comments may be e-mailed to: patricia.thompson@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to: Patricia A. Thompson, WDFW 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek, WA 90812
Fax: (425) 338-1066
A public hearing will take place on June 7-8, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Natural Resources Building, Room 172
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98504
Offer Period Change for the Sea Urchin and Sea Cucumber License Buyback Program Department staff are considering changing the Buyback Program offer period from beginning August 1 to beginning December 1.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by May 26, 2013
Written comments may be e-mailed to: Rich.childers@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to: Rich Childers, WDFW 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Fax: 360-902-2943
A public hearing will take place on June 7-8, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Natural Resources Building, Room 172
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98504
Wildlife Interaction Rules Department staff is considering amending wildlife interaction rules.
2013 North of Falcon Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fishing Regulations Each year state, federal and tribal fishery managers gather to plan the Northwest's recreational and commercial salmon fisheries. This series of public meetings, known as the North of Falcon process, involves federal, state, tribal and industry representatives and concerned citizens. Rules based on North of Falcon recommendations change from year to year to reflect resource availability and to achieve conservation goals.
2013 North of Falcon Recreational Fishing Rules North of Falcon management process, technical changes, and structural improvements to recreational fish rules and other WACs in conjunction with the WAC Overhaul project. The agency will clarify language where needed, in tandem with other amendments to WACs within this rule-making. Rules based on North of Falcon meetings change from year to year to reflect resource availability and achieve conservation goals.
2013 North of Falcon commercial salmon rules for Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor The department revised the salmon rules for commercial anglers in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor so that the rules help the department meet salmon spawning goals, minimize bycatch or incidental fishing impacts, monitor and sample all fisheries, maintain the economic well-being and stability of the fishing industry, fully utilize the non-Indian allowable catch, and fairly allocate harvest opportunity between gear groups.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by March 28, 2013
Written comments may be e-mailed to: Lori.preuss@dfw.wa.gov
or mailed to: Lori Preuss, Administrative Regulations Analyst, WDFW 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Fax: 360-902-2155
A public hearing will take place on April 9, 2013 from 10-11:30 a.m. Region 6 Fish and Wildlife Office, Conference Room
48 Devonshire Road
Montesano, WA 98563
2013 North of Falcon commercial salmon regulations for Puget Sound The department revised the salmon rules for commercial anglers in Puget Sound so that the rules help the department meet salmon spawning goals, minimize bycatch or incidental fishing impacts, monitor and sample all fisheries, maintain the economic well-being and stability of the fishing industry, fully utilize the non-Indian allowable catch.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by May 31, 2013
Written comments may be e-mailed to: Lori.preuss@dfw.wa.gov
or mailed to: Lori Preuss, Administrative Regulations Analyst, WDFW 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Fax: 360-902-2155
A public hearing will take place on June 4, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
Natural Resources Building, Room 635
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98504
Game Reserves and Waterfowl Closures
The department is considering initiating rule-making activities regarding game reserves and waterfowl closures.
Commercial shellfish dive fisheries The Department is considering rules to commercial shellfish dive fisheries to define legal gear types, provide uniform open and closed time frames, provide urchin size limits by emergency rule, and improve rule clarity.
Charter stamp validation The department needs a rule to prohibit fishing guides and charter-boat operators from re-using charter stamps rather than issuing a new stamp to each customer who needs a fishing license. This practice defrauds the state of license revenue. The proposed rule will: (1) lay out the process for validating charter stamps so the stamps cannot be reused; and (2) ensure that charter-stamp-validation violations and the re-use of stamps are penalized appropriately.
Public Comment Period: Written comments are due by February 15, 2013
Written comments may be e-mailed to: Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov
or mailed to: Wildlife Program Commission Public Comments, WDFW, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091
A public hearing will take place on March 1-2, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Moses Lake Civic Center
401 S. Balsam
Moses Lake, Washington 98837
Importation of Dead Wildlife Department staff is considering amending rules regarding the importation of dead wildlife.
Technical WAC amendments and repeal, Round 6 (Changes to WAC titles and some structural changes) This is Round 6 of several rule projects aimed at reorganizing and streamlining the agency’s rules. The project includes changes to rule titles to better communicate rule subject matter, and updates, technical changes, and structural improvements to other WACs in conjunction with the WAC Overhaul project. The agency will clarify language where needed, in tandem with other amendments to WACs within this rule-making. Changes to rules are needed because many are disorganized and contain vague, conflicting, and outdated language. WDFW will consider consolidating and splitting up rules. The project may also repeal outdated and inapplicable rules.
Technical WAC amendments and repeal, Round 5 (Changes to commercial fishing rules, reporting rules, and other WACs) This is Round 5 of several rule projects aimed at reorganizing and streamlining the agency’s rules. The project includes updates, technical changes, and structural improvements to commercial fishing rules, reporting rules, and other WACs in conjunction with the WAC Overhaul project. The agency will clarify language where needed, in tandem with other amendments to WACs within this rule-making. Changes to rules are needed because many are disorganized and contain conflicting, outdated language. WDFW will consider consolidating and splitting up rules. The project will also repeal outdated and inapplicable rules.
Removing Steller’s sea lion from the Endangered Species list Steller sea lion is currently listed as Threatened (WAC 232-12-011). Delisting criteria are described in WAC 232-12-297(4.1) and (4.2). The agency is initiating the delisting process in accordance with WAC 232-12-297(6.1.1), based on a federal determination that the species is no longer in danger of failing, declining, or vulnerable.
Elwha summer/fall Chinook hatchery program’s revised Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) This project is not a rule proposal. It is a revised Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW’s) Elwha Hatchery summer/fall Chinook salmon artificial production program. The HGMP is available for a 30-day public review and comment period. The HGMP describes, in a format prescribed by NOAA fisheries, the operation of the artificial production program for summer/fall Chinook salmon in the Elwha River and the potential effects of the program on listed species. The HGMP will be provided to NOAA fisheries for consideration as a significant conservation measure under Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act.
WAC 232-28-619 Reorganization This rule making will involve technical changes and structural improvements to WAC 232-28-619 in conjunction with the WAC Overhaul project. The department will clarify language where needed, and the rule itself will be split into smaller, more manageable sections as part of this rule-making.
Hydraulic Code Rules
Proposed changes and purpose: The Hydraulic Code Rules, which detail the conditions under which hydraulic projects must be conducted to protect fish life, and administrative procedures for applying for permits authorizing those projects, have not been significantly updated since 1994. The department would like to revise these rules to result in clear application and permit-processing procedures for applicants and the department. This will enable the department through the best available science to prevent or mitigate the impacts to fish life and habitat posed by hydraulic projects.
CR-102 - expected date for filing (tentative) - May 2013 Notice and opportunity to comment on this current rule-making proposal
Public Comment Period:TBA
Marking requirements for commercial fishing nets, reporting requirements for lost or abandoned commercial nets, and penalties for failing to report lost or abandoned nets. The Northwest Straits Initiative (NWSI) has removed 3,829 derelict fishing nets and 2,045 derelict crab pots since it began operations in 2002. More than 2.4 million animals were estimated to be entangled by the gear every year, including mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. Removing the gear restored 525 acres of marine habitat. NWSI estimates total gillnet loss since the 1970s to be approximately 5,600 nets. Changing commercial net-marking requirements, requiring commercial fishermen to report lost and abandoned nets, and penalizing a failure to report will allow the Department to identify the quantity and location of lost commercial net gear. This will assist derelict gear removal efforts, which in turn will reduce the number of animals lost to derelict gear and will help preserve marine habitat.
Development of rules regarding recreational access to Department Lands New rules are needed to implement the SSSB 5622, the Discover Washington Pass bill, to provide recreational access to Department lands.
2011 Columbia River Recreational Sturgeon Fishing Regulations Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon meet annually to plan and set rules for lower Columbia River sturgeon fisheries to help meet annual harvest guidelines by setting appropriate retention seasons and to protect sturgeon in the spawning size segment of the population. The Department revised the rules for 2011 based on actions adopted at the joint Washington-Oregon public hearing on February 8, 2011 that are consistent with Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission guidance for 2011 lower Columbia River sturgeon management and with the Joint State Accord on 2011-2013 Columbia River Sturgeon Fishery Management.
In addition, language describing previously adopted rules for sturgeon in the Columbia River from the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco upstream to Priest Rapids Dam is clarified.
Rule making on this subject has been halted until further notice.
Removal of minerals, wood and artifacts from department lands Certain resources on department-owned and leased land are being used in a manner not intended by the department. For example, large, old snags are being cut down for firewood. The department would like to prohibit this activity and make other changes to resource-use on its land.
Rule making on this subject has been halted until further notice.
Use of lighted buoys at the end of gill nets when fishing at night Requires commercial nets to have lighted buoys on the ends of the nets when fishing at night.
Rule making on this subject has been halted until further notice.
Ballast Water Discharge Performance Standards This rule will set ballast water discharge performance standards and an implementation timeline for vessels of three hundred gross tons or more to meet those standards for adequately reducing aquatic invasive species risks in state waters. For more information, please see the WDFW Ballast Water Program Website.
Rule making on this subject has been halted until further notice.
