Date Adopted: December 12, 2003.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-04600B; and amending WAC 220-52-046.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

     Reasons for this Finding: The closure of Catch Areas 23D, 25A, and 25E is necessary because the quota in these areas will be reached by the closure date. Commercial opportunity in the above zones reflects state/tribal agreements to maintain allocation objectives. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

December 12, 2003

J. P. Koenings

Director

     (1) Effective 4:00 p.m. December 16, 2003, until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in Catch Areas 23D, 25A, and 25E.

     (2) Effective immediately until further notice, it will be lawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:

     (a) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within a line that extends due north from the green number 1 buoy at Scatchet Head to Scatchet Head, thence from the green number 1 buoy at Scatchet Head to the green number 1 buoy at Possession Point, thence due north from the green number 1 buoy at Possession Point to Possession Point.

     (b) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A east and north of a line that extends from Possession Point to the green number 1 buoy at Possession Point thence following the 200 foot contour northward to a point due east from the Glendale Dock, thence extending due west to the Whidbey Island shore.

     (c) That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 21B in Samish Bay south of a line from Fish Point and Point Williams in water deeper than 60 feet.

     (d) That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A east of a line projected from the outermost tip of the ferry dock at Mukilteo projected to the green #3 buoy at the mouth of the Snohomish River and west of a line projected from that #3 buoy southward to the oil boom pier on the shoreline.

     (2) Effective immediately until further notice Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A shall be further defined by the following boundaries:

     (a) Area 26A-W shall include those waters of Catch Area 26A south of 25B and northerly of a line from Apple Cove Point to Point Edwards and south and west of a line that extends from Possession Point to the Shipwreck located .8 nautical miles north of Picnic Point.

     (b) Area 26A-E shall include those waters of Catch Area 26A south of Areas 24B and 24C and north and east of a line that extends from Possession Point to the Shipwreck located .8 nautical miles north of Picnic Point.

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     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 220-52-04600B

Crab fishery -- Seasons and areas. (03-271)