WDFW schedules public meetings on simplified shellfish, marine fish, and forage fish rules

ARCHIVED NEWS RELEASE

This document is provided for archival purposes only. Archived documents do not reflect current WDFW regulations or policy and may contain factual inaccuracies.

News release

Christopher Eardley, 360-302-3030, ext. 302
Heather Hall, 360-902-2487
Phillip Dionne, 360-902-2641

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is inviting public comment on proposed simplified fishing rules for shellfish, marine fish, and forage fish at a series of public meetings and online.

Meetings will be held at the following locations:

Olympia: 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Natural Resources Building, Room 175 A and B, 1111 Washington St. SE.

Mill Creek: 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, at WDFW’s Mill Creek office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd.

Port Townsend: 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1, at WDFW’s Port Townsend office, 375 Hudson St.

To review and comment on the proposals, visit WDFW’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/season-setting/. The public can comment on the proposed rules at the meetings or online through Oct. 17.

These proposals continue the rule simplification process that began in 2017 with updates to sport regulations for freshwater species. Among this year’s proposals:

  • Changes to daily limits, size limits, and areas for scallops, urchins, and sea cucumbers;
  • Updates to align bottomfish regulations east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line with regulations west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line; and
  • Numerous clarifications and updates to language for existing regulations.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission also will hear testimony on these proposals during its Oct. 18-19 meeting in Olympia. For the specific day and time, visit the commission’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission.

The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is expected to take action on the proposals at its meeting in December. If the commission approves these changes, the rules will take effect in early 2020.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-855-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.