Waterfowl seasons, trapping regulations, on Fish and Wildlife Commission agenda

Setting seasons for upcoming waterfowl hunts and modifying trapping rules are some of the actions facing the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at its regular meeting August 10 through 12.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m., August 10 in the ballroom of the Best Western Southcenter, 15901 West Valley Road in Tukwila. The commission will reconvene at 9 a.m. the following day, and at 8:30 a.m. on August 12.

The proposed waterfowl hunting regulation package before the commission would increase special youth hunts from one day to two, and would adjust North Puget Sound hunting dates to protect wintering populations of gray-bellied brant while continuing to allow hunting opportunity on the more common black-bellied brant.

The trapping modifications, part of the regular season and regulation-setting process, would reduce the amount of time animals may be held in restraining traps from 48 hours to 24 hours.

Among other items on the commission's three-day agenda are:

• Approval of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's 2001-2003 biennial budget proposal
• Adopting rules for ballast water management to minimize the risk of introducing destructive, non-native species into state waters
• Approval of a timeline for evaluating the use of non-toxic shot for all hunting statewide
• Adopting a policy on marine fish culture
• Establishing two new regional fisheries enhancement groups in eastern Washington
• Amending rules for commercial coastal Dungeness crab fishing
• Adopting rules for 2000-2001 coastal salmon fishing commercial license buyback
• Adopting an accidental take rule for falconers whose raptors take non-target wildlife

The commission also is scheduled to be briefed on development of draft rules for using hounds to decrease the number of cougars in certain areas of the state in an effort to increase public safety. No public testimony will be taken on the cougar rules during the August commission meeting, but public comment will be heard during a special commission meeting on the rule adoption set for September 16 in Wenatchee.

In addition, the commission will hear a briefing by representatives of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the commercial fishing industry on joint efforts to deal with derelict fishing nets.