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.)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

1. NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE -- BRIEFING:

Staff and Commission members of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative will discuss the Initiative's efforts concerning marine protected areas, forage fish inventories, and the derelict fishing gear removal project.

• Duane Fagergren, Puget Sound Action Team and Northwest Straits Commission Chair;
• Andrea Copping, Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington, and Northwest Straits Commission;
• Gary Wood, Island County Marine Resources Committee Executive Director; and
• Tom Cowan, Northwest Straits Commission Director

2. BUDGET UPDATE:

Department staff will provide a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

Staff Report: Jim Lux

3. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS:

The Commission will consider approval of numerous proposed land transactions.

Staff Report: Dan Budd

AWARDS -- HUNTER EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS:

Awards of recognition and appreciation will be presented to the following gentlemen who typify the qualities commonly found among hunter education instructors throughout the nation: community service, a commitment to safety, dedication to the outdoors and hunting, an abiding interest in wildlife and conservation, and genuine respect for all outdoor recreationists:

- Fred Burr, Seattle
- Sam Dietz, Pullman
- Robert Fahnestock, Centralia
- James Kramer, Kirkland
- William Newby, Marblemount
- Cliff Phillips, Tacoma
- Tendon Wakeley, Bellevue.

The following individuals will receive their awards of recognition and appreciation at a later date:

- Robert Emerson, Renton
- Howard Gardner, Richland.

4. HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAM -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the Hunter Education Program and issues.

Staff Report: Mik Mikitik

5. ADOPTION OF ESA FISH RULES:

The Commission will consider adoption of the following rules proposals for increased protection of ESA threatened and ESA endangered fish:

- WAC 220-56-193, Closed Season--Endangered Species Act Fish Classified as Threatened; and
- WAC 220-56-194, Closed Season--Endangered Species Act Fish Classified as Endangered.

Staff Report: Evan Jacoby

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

6. COASTAL DUNGENESS CRAB SUMMER FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the development and contents of the Coastal Dungeness Crab Summer Fishery Management Plan and the proposed management measures for the summer crab fishery.

Staff Report: Phil Anderson and Michele Robinson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

7. YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH HARVEST REDUCTIONS -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the needed reduction of harvest for the yelloweye rockfish species.**

Staff Report: Phil Anderson and Brian Culver

8. AMENDMENT TO TRIBAL HUNTING--MEDICINE CREEK TREATY HUNTERS--ENFORCEMENT POLICY:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-12-253, Tribal Hunting--Medicine Creek Treaty Hunters. This amendment would define where enrolled members of the Medicine Creek Tribes may hunt, consistent with all applicable tribal and state regulations.

Staff Report: Phil Anderson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

9. 2001-2002 PUBLIC SAFETY COUGAR REMOVALS -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the 2001-2002 public safety cougar removals with the aid of dogs. Information will be provided reviewing adjustments made following the 2000-2001 removal season, rate of success for the 2001-2002 season, and issues identified during the most recent season.

Staff Report: Steve Dauma

10. REGIONAL TASK GROUPS' REVIEW OF PUBLIC SAFETY COUGAR MANAGEMENT -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the results of the regional task groups' review of the dangerous wildlife policy and public safety cougar removals.

Staff Report: Steve Dauma and Donny Martorello

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 identified as a decision item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

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.)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

11. AMENDMENTS TO MANDATORY REPORTING INCENTIVE PERMIT HUNTS AND AUCTION AND RAFFLE PERMITS:

The Commission will consider the following:

- Adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-299, Mandatory Report of Hunting Activity: This amendment would restrict elk incentive permit holders from hunting GMUs 162 and 166 for 2002.

- Adoption of WAC 232-28-282, Big Game and Wild Turkey Auction, Raffle and Special Incentive Permits: This rule would create a permanent WAC that will regulate season dates, closures, and bag limits for auction, raffle and special incentive permits for big game and wild turkey, effective January 1, 2003.

- Repeal of WAC 232-28-277, 2001, 2002, 2003 Big Game and Wild Turkey Auction Permits and Raffles: Repeal of this rule effective December 31, 2002 is necessary to avoid confusion with existing rules.

Staff Report: Donny Martorello and Jerry Nelson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

12. AMENDMENT TO FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF WILDLIFE--EVIDENCE OF SEX--DEFINITIONS:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-12-267, Field Identification of Wildlife--Evidence of Sex--Definitions. This amendment would establish a means to facilitate disease testing while retaining proof of sex requirements for deer and elk harvested.

Staff Report: Jerry Nelson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

13. STATUS OF RUFFED AND BLUE GROUSE - BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of ruffed and blue grouse.

Staff Report: Mick Cope

14. AMENDMENT TO 2002-03 OFFICIAL HUNTING HOURS AND SMALL GAME SEASONS:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-276, 2001-02, 2002-03 Official Hunting Hours and Small Game Seasons: This amendment would establish a 2002-03 hunting season for band-tailed pigeons, increase fall turkey hunting permits in northeastern Washington, and establish an extended western Washington pheasant season in December.

Staff Report: Don Kraege and Mick Cope

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

15. RESIDENT CANADA GOOSE MANAGEMENT -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on resident Canada goose management.

Staff Report: Don Kraege and Dave Ware

16. SALE OF SALMON EGGS -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on rule proposals to prohibit the sale of salmon eggs without the salmon carcass to prevent wastage of coho and chinook salmon, and improve catch reporting.**

Staff Report: Tim Flint

17. RETAIL LICENSE ENDORSEMENT -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on rule proposals to provide salmon and crab fishers the ability to sell their own catch at retail.**

Staff Report: Morris Barker, Frank Hawley, and Cheryl McCartney

18. DOGFISH MANAGEMENT -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on rule proposals to develop a harvest quota for the Puget Sound dogfish fishery.**

Staff Report: Greg Bargmann

19. BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE REPORTING RULES -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the progress to date in implementing the ballast water laws and amendments made by the 2002 Legislature.**

Staff Report: Scott Smith

20. CLASSIFYING AND CONTROLLING AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on rule proposals for a screening and classification system to control aquatic nuisance species and begin implementation of SB 6553, passed by the 2002 Legislature.**

Staff Report: Scott Smith

21. OCEAN PINK SHRIMP/BYCATCH REDUCTION DEVICES -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on rule proposals defining legal bycatch reduction devices that may be used to reduce groundfish by-catch in the coastal pink shrimp fishery.**

Staff Report: Morris Barker

22. SEA CUCUMBER/SEA URCHIN DISTRICTS, BOUNDARIES, AND AREAS: CLOSURES AND DESCRIPTIONS -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on rule proposals to amend and make permanent sea cucumber and sea urchin districts, boundaries and area descriptions.**

Staff Report: Morris Barker

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 not identified as a decision item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)