Action:
Prohibit fishing, retention, and possession of rockfish and lingcod
in Marine Areas 3 and 4, seaward of a line approximating 20 fathoms,
as defined by the following coordinates:
Beginning at the
Bonilla-Tatoosh line, at 48° 23.87’ N; 124° 44.17’
W
Then to 48° 23.60’ N; 124° 44.90’ W
Then to 48° 19.10’ N; 124° 43.40’ W
Then to 48° 18.20’ N; 124° 46.40’ W (intersection
with 3-mile line)
Then follow the 3-mile line south to the Queets River (47° 31.70’
N)
Effective
dates: From 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 22, 2006, through 11:59
p.m. Saturday, September 30, 2006, on all days that recreational fishing
for Pacific halibut is closed.
Species
affected: All species of rockfish and lingcod
Location:
Marine Area 3 (La Push) and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
Reason for
action: Yelloweye rockfish are one of seven overfished groundfish
stocks, which are managed under rebuilding plans by the Pacific Fishery
Management Council. The Pacific Council has adopted harvest guidelines
for yelloweye rockfish for state recreational fisheries to ensure that
rebuilding goals are met. Management measures to achieve these rebuilding
goals include prohibiting the retention of yelloweye rockfish in recreational
fisheries to encourage conservation of the stock and discourage targeting
by anglers. However, yelloweye rockfish are caught incidentally while
anglers are targeting other species, such as lingcod and halibut. Through
our Ocean Sampling Program, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
collects catch data, including released catch information. Because yelloweye
rockfish have a swim bladder and are typically caught at deeper depths,
there is a high mortality factor associated with this incidental catch.
The rate of incidental
catch of yelloweye rockfish was significantly higher last year as compared
to our preseason projection. Without this 20-fm depth restriction, the
Washington recreational fishery would likely exceed the harvest guideline
adopted by the Pacific Council. In order to manage to this harvest guideline,
the Department committed to take inseason action to restrict bottomfish
fishing to slow down the catch rate of yelloweye rockfish. This regulatory
action is a follow-through on that commitment.
Even though this
action is necessary to reduce the yelloweye catch rate, it is important
to note that some areas where Washington anglers fish will still remain
open to bottomfish fishing. On days that halibut fishing is open (e.g.,
June 22 and 24), the depth restriction will not apply. On days that
halibut fishing is closed, anglers can target other species, such as
salmon (when open) seaward of the 20-fm line, then catch and retain
their rockfish and lingcod once they are shoreward of the line approximating
the 20-fm depth restriction. However, any rockfish or lingcod caught
while targeting salmon seaward of the 20-fm line cannot be retained
or possessed.
