WSR 26-19-120 — Department of Fish and Wildlife [Order 26-19—FILED September 22, 2026, 10:37 A.M.]: The department of fish and wildlife (department) seeks to increase the administrative nonreporting penalty for Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record cards…

WSR 26-19-120 — Department of Fish and Wildlife [Order 26-19—FILED September 22, 2026, 10:37 A.M.]: The department of fish and wildlife (department) seeks to increase the administrative nonreporting penalty for Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record cards… WSR 26-19-120 (26-19) WSR 26-19-120 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 26-19—Filed September 22, 2026, 10:37 a.m.] Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of fish and wildlife (department) seeks to increase the administrative nonreporting penalty for Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record cards (CRCs). Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012 , 77.04.013 , 77.04.055 , 77.12.045 , and 77.12.047 . Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: CRCs are the primary means of harvest assessment for the Puget Sound recreational Dungeness crab fishery; however, only a portion of the license holders return their CRCs to the department. License holders who do not return their CRC are assessed a $10 nonreporting penalty, initially enacted in 2007. Reporting rates have declined over the last six years, creating challenges for accurate harvest assessment and treaty comanager 50/50 sharing obligations. The department is considering an increase to the nonreporting penalty to improve CRC return rates and the reliability of recreational harvest data. Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Not applicable. Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study. Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 855-925-2801, project code 11263, TTY 1-800-833-6388 or 711, email 2026crabpenaltycr101@publicinput.com , website https://engage.wdfw.wa.gov/2026crabpenaltycr101 or https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/development. Additional comments: Assistance for language translation, alternate format, or reasonable accommodation, contact Title VI/ADA compliance coordinator, phone 360-902-2349, TTY 1-800-833-6388 or 711, email Title6@dfw.wa.gov . For more information, see https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation . September 22, 2026 Scott Bird Rules Coordinator Matter furnished by the Washington Office of the Code Reviser (Washington State Register). Notice Nearby did not write this notice. Source: Washington State Register Published: 2026-09-22 Original: https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2026/19/26-19-120.htm This listing was added to the Notice Nearby public register from a public government source. It is not a Notice Nearby paid publication, affidavit, or placement certificate.