November 8-9, 2012 Minutes

1. Commissioners’ Discussion
   • Counting Fish - new technologies
   • Montana trip - learning about lethal and non-lethal wolf control
   • Wolves in Nevada

    

2. Meeting Minutes Approval
   • November 2, 2012 - Conference Call Minutes
   • Complements to Commission Staff for timely completion of minutes

• Introduction of Tim Burns, Assistant Director, Capital Asset Management Program and Eric Gardner, Diversity Division Manager, Wildlife Program
• Giant Pacific Octopus harvest
• Wolf Conservation and Management Plan
• Rule to delist Steller Sea lions

4. WAC Overhaul Technical Rule Changes Round 3 – Decision
Joanna Eide, Administrative Regulations Analyst, Enforcement Program, briefed the Commission on the proposed third batch of technical rule changes associated with the WAC overhaul project.  This proposal was an update to clarify, reorganize, and restructure numerous bottomfish, commercial shellfish, and recreational shellfish rules.

The following rules are amended:
WAC 220-16-330        General definitions--Dressed fish.
WAC 220-48-005        Puget Sound bottomfish--General provisions.
WAC 220-48-015        Beam trawl and otter trawl--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-052        Bottomfish troll--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-061        Drag seines--Gear.
WAC 220-48-071        Bottomfish pots--Gear and seasons.
WAC 220-52-018        Clams--Gear.
WAC 220-52-019        Geoduck clams--Gear and unlawful acts.
WAC 220-52-01901    Geoduck licenses.
WAC 220-52-040        Commercial crab fishery--Lawful and unlawful gear, methods, and other unlawful acts.
WAC 220-52-043        Commercial crab fishery--Additional gear and license use requirements.
WAC 220-52-046        Crab fishery--Seasons and areas.
WAC 220-52-060        Crawfish fishery.
WAC 220-56-315        Crabs, shrimp, crawfish--Unlawful acts.
WAC 220-56-320        Shellfish gear--Unlawful acts.
WAC 220-56-330        Crab--Areas and seasons.
WAC 220-56-335        Crab--Unlawful acts.
WAC 220-56-365        Razor clams--Unlawful acts.

The following are proposed new rules:
WAC 220-48-072        Unlawful retention of live bottomfish.
WAC 220-52-005        Crab--General unlawful acts.
WAC 220-52-01902    Commercial geoduck harvest--Requirements and unlawful acts.
WAC 220-52-01903    Commercial geoduck harvest--Time and area restrictions.
WAC 220-52-036        Definition--Commercial crab fishing.
WAC 220-52-038        Commercial crab licenses.
WAC 220-52-042        Commercial crab fishery--Buoy tag, pot tag, and buoy requirements.
WAC 220-52-044        Commercial crab fishery--Coastal gear recovery permits.
WAC 220-52-045        Commercial crab fishery--Seasons and areas--Coastal.
WAC 220-52-047        Commercial crab gear--Possession of another’s gear and tag tampering.
WAC 220-52-048        Commercial crab fishery--Gear limits--Puget Sound and Marine Fish- Shellfish Managements and Catch reporting Areas.
WAC 220-52-049        Commercial crab fishery--Gear limits--Coastal.
WAC 220-56-317        Personal use shrimp pot gear requirements.
WAC 220-56-318        Personal use crab pot gear requirements.
           
The following rules are repealed:
WAC 220-16-325        General definitions--Dressed fish length measurement.
WAC 220-48-001        Puget Sound bottomfish gear.
WAC 220-48-019        Roller trawl--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-025        Set net--Pacific cod--Gear.
WAC 220-48-026        Set net--Pacific cod--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-027        Set net--Pacific cod--Logbooks.
WAC 220-48-029        Set net--Dogfish--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-032        Set line--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-041        Commercial jig--Gear.
WAC 220-48-042        Commercial jig--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-051        Bottomfish troll--Seasons.
WAC 220-48-062        Drag seines--Seasons.

Vice Chair Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Smith to adopt all changes on pages 3 and 4 of attachment A (listed above).  Motion carries unanimously.

5. WAC Overhaul Technical Rule Changes, Round 4 - Briefing
Joanna Eide, Administrative Regulations Analyst, Enforcement Program, briefed the Commission on the fourth batch of technical rule changes associated with the WAC overhaul project. The proposal amended WAC sections to update, clarify, reorganize, and restructure numerous wildlife, fish, and shellfish rules.

No one signed up to provide public input for this item.

6. Puget Sound Recovery and Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant Program – Briefing
Margen Carlson, Puget Sound Policy Lead, Habitat Program, briefed the Commission on the activities and commitments within the Department relating to Puget Sound recovery.

7. WDFW Use of Social Media
Bruce Botka, Public Affairs and Community Outreach Manager, Madonna Luers, Communications Consultant and Mike Cenci, Deputy Chief, Enforcement Program demonstrated how the agency is using social media to support its enforcement, public affairs and outreach efforts.  Mr. Botka thanked John Burrows, Web Development Manager, for his work on the WDFW website.

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 4:22 p.m.

Friday, November 9, 2012

9. Executive Session
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i), the Commission met in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency is, or is likely to become, a party. 

No action was taken in executive session, and the public was not permitted to attend the executive session. 

10.  Puget Sound Shrimp Policy Review – Briefing
Rich Childers, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager, briefed the Commission on the preliminary analysis of spot shrimp fishery management options and draft language for a policy that includes fishery management objectives and resource conservation principles.

The following people signed up to provide public input for this item:

11. Open Public Input
No one signed up to provide public input for this item.

12. Commission’s Annual Meeting with the Governor   
Location: Governor’s Office, Legislative Building, Olympia       
The Commission met with Marty Loesch, Chief of Staff as Governor Gregoire was unavailable.

In accordance with RCW 77.04.055, the Commission met with Governor Gregoire to review and prescribe basic goals and objectives, and review the performance of the Department in implementing fish and wildlife policies.

13. Wildlife Conflict Rules – Rule Briefing and Public Hearing
Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, briefed the Commission on amendments to wildlife interaction/conflict regulations including floor changes contained in the presentation.

Amend: 
WAC 232-36-030 Definitions.
WAC 232-36-051 Killing wildlife causing private property damage.
WAC 232-36-100 Payment for commercial crop damage – Limitations.
WAC 232-36-200 Payment for commercial livestock damage – Limitations.
WAC 232-36-250 Payment for noncommercial livestock or guard dog losses – Limitations.
WAC 232-36-260 Application of cash compensation for noncommercial livestock or guard  dog losses – Procedure.
WAC 232-36-400 Commercial crop or livestock damage claim – Dispute resolution.

The following people provided testimony for this item: