In order to provide for economic stability in the commercial sea urchin fishery, and in accordance with RCW
77.70.150, the department establishes the sea urchin license reduction program (program).
(1) Eligibility: All persons who currently hold a sea urchin commercial fishery license are eligible to offer their license(s) for purchase by the department.
(2) Offer process: The department will accept sales offers beginning December 1st of each year and will purchase licenses based on the funds that are available on January 31st of the following year.
(3) Selection process: The department will rank sales offers from the lowest offer to the highest. It will purchase the lowest-cost licenses first, then the next lowest, and continue until there are insufficient funds to complete a purchase on an offer. If two or more licenses are offered at the same price, selection will be by random draw. To purchase licenses, the department will use the funds made available under RCW
77.70.150, with a maximum purchase price set by the director or his or her designee. The director or his or her designee must seek the advice of commercial sea urchin fishery license holders prior to setting or revising the maximum purchase price. Once the director or his or her designee establishes or revises the maximum bid price, he or she will convey the price via emergency rule by November 1st of each year.
(4) License reduction process: When the department purchases a license, it will issue a warrant (a check from the department) in the amount of the offer to the license holder. On the date that the department mails the warrant to the license holder's mailing address on file with the department, it will void the license. When the license holder receives the warrant, he or she must return his or her commercial sea urchin license cards to the department.
(5) No prohibition on reentry: License holders who sell a license under the program may reenter the sea urchin commercial fishery if they purchase a license.
(6) Program termination: This program terminates when the number of sea urchin commercial fishery licensees is reduced to twenty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.013,
77.04.020,
77.04.055, and
77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-340-760, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.020,
77.12.047,
77.70.150, and
77.70.190. WSR 13-14-041 (Order 13-138), § 220-95-100, filed 6/27/13, effective 7/28/13. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047,
77.70.150, and
77.70.190. WSR 12-15-019 (Order 12-140), § 220-95-100, filed 7/10/12, effective 8/10/12. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.12.047. WSR 07-11-110 (Order 07-88), § 220-95-100, filed 5/18/07, effective 6/18/07; WSR 02-17-014 (Order 02-184), § 220-95-100, filed 8/9/02, effective 9/9/02; WSR 02-01-069 (Order 01-274), § 220-95-100, filed 12/14/01, effective 1/14/02.]