EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: December 31, 2007, 5:00 p.m.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: 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: This closure complies with state/treaty management agreements to reduce fishing mortality in areas that do not meet the hardshell criteria. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 27, 2007.
Phil Anderson
for Jeff Koenings
Director
1) It will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area east of a line from the spiral staircase at Howarth Park due north to the south end of Gedney Island and that portion of 24B east of a line from the north end of Gedney Island to Camano Head and south of a line drawn from Camano Head to Hermosa Point (north end of Tulalip Bay).
2) Effective 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2007 until 5:00 p.m. January 5, 2008, it will be lawful for crab fishers to remove their gear from those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area east of a line from the spiral staircase at Howarth Park due north to the south end of Gedney Island and that portion of 24B east of a line from the north end of Gedney Island to Camano Head and south of a line drawn from Camano Head to Hermosa Point (north end of Tulalip Bay). No crab may be retained, landed from, or possessed from the above area after 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2007.
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