COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:
Commissioners will discuss recent activities and items of general interest and provide status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Director Koenings will review significant Department issues and activities.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those who cannot be present later in the day. If workable, please provide your comments during time allotted for specific agenda items or during Open Public Input session later in the day.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

1. BUDGET UPDATE:
Department staff will provide a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

Staff Report: Jim Lux

2. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS:
The Commission will consider approval of numerous proposed land transactions.

Staff Report: Dan Budd

3. SUMMARY OF NONTOXIC SHOT REPORT -- BRIEFING:
The Commission will be briefed on the results of the Department's literature review and survey of other states' nontoxic shot requirements and its examination of other aspects of nontoxic shot use related to ballistic performance, compliance and regulatory options. The Commission will provide direction to the Department on the use of lead shot for hunting gamebirds.

Staff Report: Don Kraege

Staff Report: John Broome

5. DEPARTMENT POLICIES ON REMOVAL OF PROBLEM WILDLIFE -- BRIEFING:
Department staff will brief the Commission on Department policies on the removal of problem wildlife, especially animals and birds other than bear and cougar.

Staff Report: John Broome

6. ADOPTION OF 2001 NORTH OF FALCON POLICY:
The Commission will consider adoption of the proposed 2001 North of Falcon Policy. This policy is necessary to provide clearly understood Commission guidance to the Department in conduct of its annual delegated development of salmon fishery regulations through the North of Falcon management planning process and associated PFMC deliberations.

Staff Report: Donny Martorello and John Musser

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

7. ADOPTION OF 2001 TRIAL PURSE SEINE SARDINE FISHERY RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of the following rule proposals for the 2001 trial purse seine fishery for sardines:

• Permanent amendment to WAC 220-33-060, Herring and Anchovies
• Permanent amendment to WAC 220-44-020, Coastal Baitfish Gear
• WAC 220-88C-010, Emerging Commercial Fishery--Coastal Pilchard Fishery
• WAC 220-88C-020, Designation of the Coastal Pilchard Fishery as an Emerging Commercial Fishery
• WAC 220-88C-030, Eligibility to Participate in the Coastal Pilchard Fishery
• WAC 220-88C-040, Coastal Pilchard Fishery--Seasons and Lawful Catch
• WAC 220-88C-050, Coastal Pilchard Fishery--Observer and Sampler Coverage, Logbook Requirements.

Staff Report: Phil Anderson and Michele Robinson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

8. OVERVIEW OF HABITAT PROGRAM:
Department staff will provide the Commission with an overview of the organizational structure and priorities of the Habitat Program, to include a discussion on the petition submitted by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, the Institute for Fisheries Resources, and Washington Trout.

Staff Report: Greg Hueckel

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those who cannot be present later in the day. If workable, please provide your comments during time allotted for specific agenda items or during Open Public Input session later in the day.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

9. ROCKFISH STOCK ASSESSMENTS -- BRIEFING:
Department staff will brief the Commission on the management and assessment of rockfish in Washington inshore coastal and Strait of Juan de Fuca waters.

Staff Report: Greg Bargmann

10. ADOPTION OF 2001-2002 SPORTFISH RULE PROPOSALS:

• A. The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules:
  • WAC 220-56-115, Angling--Lawful and Unlawful Acts
  • WAC 220-56-123, Unlawful Provisions--Westport and Ocean Shores Boat Basins
  • WAC 220-56-126, Nonbuoyant Lures and Night Closures--Saltwater
  • WAC 220-56-145, Possession of Gamefish, Food Fish or Shellfish in Unlawful Condition--Possession Aboard a Vessel
  • WAC 220-56-150, Unlawful to Take Another's Limit
  • WAC 220-56-175, Catch Record Cards
  • WAC 220-56-235, Possession Limits--Bottomfish
  • WAC 220-56-240, Daily Limits Forage Fish and Other Food Fish Not Otherwise Provided For
  • WAC 220-56-282, Sturgeon--Areas, Seasons, Limits and Unlawful Acts
  • WAC 220-56-285, Shad--Areas and Seasons
  • WAC 220-56-320, Shellfish Gear--Unlawful Acts
  • WAC 220-56-325, Shrimp--Areas and Seasons
  • WAC 220-56-330, Crab--Areas and Seasons
  • WAC 220-56-350, Clams Other Than Razor Clams, Cockles, Borers, Mussels--Areas and Seasons
  • WAC 220-56-380, Oysters--Areas and Seasons
  • WAC 232-12-077, Wildlife Taken By Another
  • WAC 232-12-619, Permanent Washington Statewide Game Fish Rules
  • WAC 232-28-619, Washington Food Fish and Game Fish--Freshwater Exceptions to Statewide Rules.
  
  
• B. The Commission will consider repeal of the following rules:
  • WAC 220-56-290, Sturgeon Angling Hours
  • WAC 220-56-295, Sturgeon--Unlawful Hours
  • WAC 220-56-305, Sturgeon--Catch and Release.

(NOTE: Public input on these rule proposals was accepted at the December 8-9, 2000 Commission meeting; no additional public input will be accepted at this meeting.)

Staff Report: Ross Fuller

11. AMENDMENT TO FLY FISHING ONLY DEFINITION--GEAR EXEMPTION FOR FISHERS WITH DISABILITIES:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-56-210, Fly Fishing, to modify the fly fishing only definition to allow fishers with permanent upper extremity disabilities to participate using gear not otherwise permissible.

Staff Report: Bob Gibbons

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for only those issues notidentified as an agenda item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

12. AMENDMENTS TO COMMERCIAL SALMON, STURGEON AND WHOLESALE DEALER RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules:

- WAC 220-20-016, Sale of Commercial Caught Salmon, to tighten rules to prevent wastage of chum salmon;
- WAC 220-47-301, Puget Sound--Lawful Gear--Purse Seine, to clarify the maximum dimension of the length of the bunt section in the seine net and eliminate the depth dimension of the bunt; and
- WAC 220-69-240, Duties of Commercial Purchasers and Receivers (new Section [11] only), to establish reporting deadlines and mechanisms to gather data from fisheries where rapid management response is essential to conservation, allocation, and maximization of commercial fishing opportunity.

Staff Report: Dick Geist

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

CONTINUE DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ITEM #12, IF ADDITIONAL TIME IS NEEDED.

13. AMENDMENT TO DUTIES OF SEA URCHIN/SEA CUCUMBER BUYERS:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-69-240, Duties of Commercial Purchasers and Receivers (new Section [12] only), to require expedited catch reporting enabling managers to meet allocation and conservation needs in a timely manner.

Staff Report: Morris Barker

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

14. AMENDMENT TO SEA URCHIN AND SEA CUCUMBER DISTRICTS::
The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules to redefine sea urchin and sea cucumber districts to meet contemporary usage:

- WAC 220-52-071, Sea Cucumbers, and - WAC 220-52-073, Sea Urchins.

Staff Report: Morris Barker

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

15. AMENDMENT TO PERSONAL USE CRAB GEAR UNITS:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-56-315, Crabs, Shrimp, Crawfish--Unlawful Acts, to identify "Shrimp District 5" as the "Hood Canal Shrimp District."

Staff Report: Morris Barker

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

16. APPROVAL OF COMMISSION MINUTES:
The Commission will review and consider approval of the Minutes of numerous Commission meetings, workshop, and conference calls.

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting but after the preliminary agenda is published.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for only those issues notidentified as an agenda item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)