WSR 07-19-061

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 07-219 -- Filed September 14, 2007, 3:02 p.m. , effective September 14, 2007, 3:02 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-07100H; and amending WAC 220-52-071 and 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: This regulation is needed because harvestable amounts of sea cucumbers and red and green sea urchins are available in the above sea cucumber districts and areas described. Prohibition of all diving from licensed sea cucumber and sea urchin harvest vessels within two days of scheduled sea cucumber and sea urchin openings discourages the practice of fishing on closed days and hiding the unlawful catch underwater until the legal opening. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: September 14, 2007.

J. P. Koenings

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-07100I   Sea cucumbers.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-071, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea cucumbers for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:

     (1) Effective 6:00 a.m. September 17, 2007, until further notice, sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in Sea Cucumber Districts 1, 2 and 5 on Monday through Thursday of each week.

     (2) It is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially licensed sea cucumber fishing vessel on Friday and Saturday of each week, except by written permission from the Director.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-07300M   Sea urchins.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-073, effective September 30, 2007 until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:

     (1) Green sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are open only on Sunday and Monday of each week. The minimum size for green sea urchins is 2.25 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).

     (2) Red sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 are open only on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. In Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 it is unlawful to harvest red sea urchins smaller than 4.0 inches or larger than 5.5 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).

     (3) It is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially licensed sea urchin fishing vessel on Friday and Saturday of each week, except by written permission from the Director.

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REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-57-07100H Sea cucumbers

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