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.

BUDGET UPDATE:
Department staff will provide an update on the Department's current biennial budget.

Staff Report: Jim Lux

ACTIVITY-BASED COST ACCOUNTING SYSTEM -- BRIEFING:
Department staff will provide a status report on the Activity-Based Cost Accounting System.

Staff Report: Jim Lux

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Department staff will brief the Commission on current legislation.

Staff Report: Josh Weiss and Tom Davis

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. ADOPTION OF DEEP RIVER MOUTH DEFINITION RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of WAC 220-16-290, Geographical Definitions--Deep River (Wahkiakum County), to define, for commercial fisheries, the Highway 4 Bridge as the mouth of Deep River.

Staff Report: Tim Flint

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

2. AMENDMENT TO SALMON PURSE SEINE MINIMUM MESH SIZE RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-47-301, Puget Sound--Lawful Gear--Purse Seine, to modify the minimum mesh size for Puget Sound purse seines from four inches to three and one-half inches.

Staff Report: Tim Flint

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

LUNCH BREAK

3. SALE OF COMMERCIALLY CAUGHT SALMON AND SALMON EGGS -- BRIEFING:
Department staff will brief the Commission and the public on the sale of commercially caught salmon and salmon eggs. (NOTE: This is for discussion and public input purposes only. The Commission will table consideration of adoption of the rule proposals until the April 11-12, 2003, Commission meeting; no additional public input will be accepted at that meeting.)

Staff Report: Tim Flint

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

4. COMMISSION REQUESTS TO THE DEPARTMENT:
The Commission will review the Summary of Commission Requests to the Department and consider new requests.

5. ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION PLANNING -- BRIEFING:
Department and The Nature Conservancy staffs will brief the Commission on Ecoregional Conservation Planning.

Staff Report: Elizabeth Rodrick

6. ADOPTION OF RETAIL LICENSE ENDORSEMENT RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of the following rule proposals to implement Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2323 which would provide (1) fees-setting direction, (2) endorsement/license renewal requirements, and (3) increased catch accounting capability for both wholesale dealers and retail license endorsement holders:

- WAC 220-20-0800B, Sale Under a Direct Retail Endorsement;
- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-69-240, Duties of Commercial Purchasers and Receivers; and
- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-69-241, Duties of Commercial Fisherman.

Staff Report: Frank Hawley, Phil Anderson, and Morris Barker

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

CLARK COUNTY PUD RECOGNITION AWARD:
The Commission and Department will recognize Clark County PUD for its efforts in salmon recovery and education.

7. AMENDMENT TO COASTAL POLLOCK FISHERY RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-44-050, Coastal Bottomfish Catch Limits, to prohibit the possession, transportation, and landing of pollock caught in Pacific Ocean waters into Washington state. Directed whiting and coastal groundfish fishers would be allowed to land pollock of up to 20 percent of their landing by weight.

Staff Report: Michele Robinson and Phil Anderson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

8. ADOPTION OF THE 2003 NORTH OF FALCON POLICY:
The Commission will consider adoption of the proposed 2003 North of Falcon Policy:

Staff Report: Phil Anderson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

9. ADOPTION OF PUGET SOUND SHRIMP RESOURCE AND FISHERY MANAGEMENT POLICY:
The Commission will consider adoption of the proposed Puget Sound Shrimp Resource and Fishery Management Policy.

Staff Report: Lisa Veneroso

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 only those issues not identified as a decision item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

RECESS

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)

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

Staff Report: Dan Budd

11. ADOPTION OF GAME MANAGEMENT UNIT BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION RULES:
A. The Commission will consider adoption of the following Game Management Unit boundary descriptions:

- WAC 232-28-331, Game Management Units (GMUs) Boundary Descriptions--Region One;
- WAC 232-28-332, Game Management Units (GMUs) Boundary Descriptions--Region Two;
- WAC 232-28-333, Game Management Units (GMUs) Boundary Descriptions--Region Three;
- WAC 232-28-334, Game Management Units (GMUs) Boundary Descriptions--Region Four;
- WAC 232-28-335, Game Management Units (GMUs) Boundary Descriptions--Region Five; and
- WAC 232-28-336, Game Management Units (GMUs) Boundary Descriptions--Region Six.

B. The Commission will consider repeal of the following Game Management Unit boundary descriptions:

- WAC 232-28-02201, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region One;
- WAC 232-28-02202, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region Two;
- WAC 232-28-02203, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region Three;
- WAC 232-28-02204, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region Four;
- WAC 232-28-02205, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region Five;
- WAC 232-28-02206, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region Six; and
- WAC 232-28-02280, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Cougar Areas.

Staff Report: Dave Ware and Shelly Snyder

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

12. ADOPTION OF OFFICIAL HUNTING HOURS FOR GAME BIRDS AND GAME ANIMALS RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-12-289, Official Hunting Hours for Game Birds and Game Animals, to simplify the three-year hunting season rule and provide convenient information for hunters.

Staff Report: Don Kraege

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

13. MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN HIGH ARCTIC BRANT AND WRANGEL ISLAND SNOW GEESE -- BRIEFING:
Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of Western High Arctic Brant and Wrangel Island Snow Geese.

Staff Report: Don Kraege

14. AMENDMENTS TO DOGFISH SHARK MANAGEMENT RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC 220-48-029, Set Net--Dogfish--Seasons and WAC 220-48-032, Set Line--Seasons, to protect Puget Sound dogfish shark stocks during the summer pupping season.

Staff Report: Greg Bargmann; Guest: Dr. Vince Gallucci, University of Washington

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

15. AMENDMENTS TO COMMERCIAL FISHING RULES FOR HERRING IN COASTAL AREAS RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rule proposals to ensure all intended herring purse seine fishing seasons have been closed:

- WAC 220-33-060, Herring and Anchovies;
- WAC 220-36-03001, Grays Harbor--Seasons and Lawful Gear--Varieties Other than Salmon and Sturgeon; and
- Willapa Bay--Seasons and Lawful Gear--Varieties Other than Salmon and Sturgeon.

Staff Report: Greg Bargmann

16. AMENDMENTS TO 2003-2004 SPORTFISH RULES:
(At its December 6-7, 2002, meeting, the Commission voted to continue action on the proposal for no-annual limit on hatchery steelhead [permanent amendments to WAC 232-12-619, Permanent Washington Statewide Game Fish Rules, and WAC 220-56-175, Catch Record Cards] to this meeting.)

The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules:

- WAC 220-12-020, Shellfish--Classification;
- WAC 220-56-105, River Mouth Definitions;
- WAC 220-56-129, Unclassified Freshwater Invertebrates;
- WAC 220-56-175, Catch Record Cards;
- WAC 220-56-230, Bottomfish--Closed Areas;
- WAC 220-56-235, Possession Limits--Bottomfish;
- WAC 220-56-250, Lingcod--Areas and Seasons;
- WAC 220-56-255, Halibut--Seasons--Daily and Possession Limits;
- WAC 220-56-265, Forage Fish--Lawful Gear;
- WAC 220-56-320, Shellfish Gear--Unlawful Acts;
- WAC 220-56-325, Shrimp--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 232-12-619, Permanent Washington Statewide Game Fish Rules;
- WAC 232-28-619, Washington Food Fish and Game Fish--Freshwater Exceptions Statewide Rules; and
- WAC 232-28-621, Puget Sound Salmon--Saltwater Seasons and Daily Limits.

(NOTE: Public input on these rule proposals was accepted at the December 6-7, 2002, Commission meeting; no additional public input will be accepted at this meeting.)

Staff Report: Bob Gibbons, Morris Barker, Pat Michael

17. AMENDMENT TO COASTAL PINK SHRIMP FISHERY--MANDATORY EXCLUDER RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-52-050, Ocean Pink Shrimp Trawl Fishery--Coastal Waters, to define and require mandatory use of by-catch reduction devices for the Washington coastal pink shrimp fishery.

Staff Report: Morris Barker

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

18. AMENDMENTS TO LOGBOOKS AND MANAGEMENT UNIT DESCRIPTIONS FOR SHRIMP RULES:
The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rule proposals to modify shrimp management boundaries, logbook requirements, and recording requirements to allow for better management and allocation:

- WAC 220-52-051, Shrimp Fishery--Puget Sound,
- WAC 220-52-075, Shellfish Harvest Logs, and
- WAC 220-69-240, Duties of Commercial Purchasers and Receivers.

Staff Report: Morris Barker

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The Commission is a direction 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)

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