WSR 04-03-074

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 04-09 -- Filed January 16, 2004, 3:03 p.m. ]


     Date Adopted: January 16, 2004.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-07300K; and amending WAC 220-52-073.

     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: Harvestable amounts of red and green sea urchins exist in the areas described. Prohibition of all diving within two days of scheduled sea urchin openings discourages the practice of fishing on closed days and hiding the unlawful catch underwater until the legal opening. Specifically expressing the western boundary of Sea Urchin District 3, in terms of geographic longitudinal position, aids in the enforceability of harvest. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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

January 16, 2004

J. P. Koenings

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-07300L   Sea urchins.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-073 and WAC 220-20-051, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:

     (1) Sea urchin districts:

     Sea Urchin District 3 (Port Angeles) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 23C east of a line projected true north from Low Point along the 123° 49.500' (123° 49' 30") longitude line, and Area 23D.

     (2) Green sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 3, 4, 6 and 7 are open only on Mondays through Fridays of each week. The minimum size for green sea urchins is 2.25 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).

     (3) Red sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 are open only on Mondays through Fridays of each week. Sea Urchin District 3 is open only on January 22, 2004. The maximum daily landing of red sea urchins allowed in Sea Urchin District 3 is 2,000 pounds per commercial sea urchin license on a valid designated harvest vessel. It is unlawful to harvest red sea urchins smaller or larger than the following size (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).

     (a) District 1 and 2 - 4.0 minimum to 5.5 maximum inches.

     (b) District 3 - 3.25 minimum to 5.0 maximum inches.

     (4) It is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially licensed sea urchin or sea cucumber fishing vessel on Saturdays and Sundays of each week.

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REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-52-07300K Sea urchins. (04-02)