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Commission approves changes to Puget Sound shrimp-pot rules
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Summary
The commission approved rule updates allowing harvest of spot and non-spot shrimp on the same day (with procedural controls), corrected pot-mesh measurement language and recommended adoption of related administrative fixes; staff said Fish Committee supports the recommendation.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to approve staff-recommended amendments to commercial shrimp-pot rules for Puget Sound that include procedural changes and technical clarifications intended to improve enforceability and give harvesters more flexibility.
Staff said the primary change lets harvesters take both spot shrimp and non-spot shrimp on the same day provided they harvest spot shrimp first and complete a landing before fishing for non-spot shrimp. Presenters told commissioners that electronic fish-ticketing and improved tracking tools reduce prior enforcement concerns and allow the department to manage the fishery while offering more flexibility to harvesters.
The packet also corrects pot-mesh measurement descriptions so enforcement and industry have a clear, testable standard. The Fish Committee recommended support for the staff package and the commission carried the motion approving the staff recommendation after a second and a voice vote.
Commissioners praised the outreach staff did with pot fishermen and noted apparent consensus among affected parties. A commissioner asked whether the rule change would affect tribes; staff replied the tribes do not have an active trawl fishery in the impacted share and the rule should not directly alter tribal harvest, although co-managers will monitor changes.
The commission's action finalizes the departmental CR filing recommendation for these Puget Sound shrimp-pot proposals and related housekeeping updates; the department will proceed with the filing steps identified in the packet.
