PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 08-02-070.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 220-52-073 Sea urchins.
Hearing Location(s): Shilo Inn, 707 Ocean Shores Boulevard N.W., Ocean Shores, WA 98569, on June 6-7, 2008, at 8:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: July 20, 2008, via conference call.
Submit Written Comments to: Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, e-mail preuslmp@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2155, by June 5, 2008.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Susan Yeager by May 23, 2008, TTY (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Purpose of proposal is to put into permanent rule what has been required by emergency rule for a number of years. This will defuse an issue raised by a plaintiff's attorney and will result in no substantive change to the rule intent or to the resource.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Removes a potential defense to those who violate the size limit rules on sea urchins.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of fish and wildlife, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Morris Barker, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-2826; Implementation: Lew Atkins, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-2651; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, (360) 902-2373.
A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
2. Kinds of Professional Services That a Small Business is Likely to Need in Order to Comply with Such Requirements: None required.
3. Costs of Compliance for Businesses, Including Costs of Equipment, Supplies, Labor, and Increased Administrative Costs: No cost of compliance - rules are the same as have been enacted by emergency rule.
4. Will Compliance with the Rule Cause Businesses to Lose Sales or Revenue? No.
5. Cost of Compliance for the 10% of Businesses That are the Largest Businesses Required to Comply with the Proposed Rules Using One or More of the Following as a Basis for Comparing Costs:
a. Cost per employee;
b. Cost per hour of labor; or
c. Cost per one hundred dollars of sales.
There is no cost of compliance.
6. Steps Taken by the Agency to Reduce the Costs of the Rule on Small Businesses or Reasonable Justification for Not Doing So: There is no cost so no steps are taken to reduce costs.
7. A Description of How the Agency Will Involve Small Businesses in the Development of the Rule: Agency will involve effected [affected] fishers through the public rule-making process of the fish and wildlife commission.
8. A List of Industries That Will Be Required to Comply with the Rule: Sea urchin fishers.
A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Morris Barker, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2826, fax (360) 902-2944, e-mail barkemwb@dfw.wa.gov.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These are not hydraulic rules.
March 27, 2008
Morris W. Barker
for Lori Preuss
Rules Coordinator
OTS-1376.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 04-210, filed 8/17/04,
effective 9/17/04)
WAC 220-52-073
Sea urchins.
It is unlawful to take or
possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as
provided for in this section.
(1) Sea urchin districts:
(a) Sea Urchin District 1 (Northern San Juan Islands) is defined as Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, and those waters of Area 22A north of a line projected east-west one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island and west of a line projected true north from Limestone Point on San Juan Island.
(b) Sea Urchin District 2 (Southern San Juan Islands and Port Townsend) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A south of a line projected east-west one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island and east of a line projected true north from Limestone Point on San Juan Island and Areas 21A, 21B, 22B, 23A, 23B, 25A and 25B. The following areas within Sea Urchin District 2 are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times:
(i) Those waters of Haro Strait north of a line projected due west from the southernmost point of Cattle Point on San Juan Island to the international border and south of a line projected due west from a point one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island to the international border.
(ii) Those waters of San Juan Channel and Upright Channel within the following lines: South of a line projected from Flat Point on Lopez Island true west to Shaw Island; west of a line from Neck Point on Shaw Island to Steep Point on Orcas Island; south of a line from Steep Point on Orcas Island to Limestone Point on San Juan Island north of a line from Flat Point on Lopez Island to the northernmost point of Turn Island and thence projected true west to San Juan Island.
(c) 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 123°49'30" W. longitude, and Area 23D.
(d) Sea Urchin District 4 (Sekiu) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 23C west of a line projected true north from Low Point, along 123°49'30" W. longitude, and those waters of Area 29 east of a line projected true north from the mouth of Rasmussen Creek (3.1 miles southeast of Sail Rock).
(e) Sea Urchin District 5 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 29 west of a line projected true north from the mouth of Rasmussen Creek (3.1 miles southeast of Sail Rock) and Areas 59A and 59B. Within Sea Urchin District 5, waters within one-quarter mile of Tatoosh Island are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times.
(f) Sea Urchin District 6 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and 26A.
(g) Sea Urchin District 7 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 26B, 26C, 26D and 28A. The following areas within Sea Urchin District 7 are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times.
(i) Those waters of Eagle Harbor west of a line projected from Wing Point to Eagle Harbor Creosote Light Number 1, then projected due west to the shore on Bainbridge Island.
(ii) The waters of Sinclair Inlet west of a line projected southerly from the easternmost point of Point Turner to landfall directly below the Veteran's Home in Annapolis.
(2) Sea urchin seasons and sizes:
(a) Sea urchin seasons ((and sizes)) will be set by
emergency rule.
(b) Green sea urchins in all sea urchin districts - unlawful to harvest urchins smaller than 2.25 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).
(c) Red sea urchins in Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2: Unlawful to harvest urchins smaller than 4.0 inches or larger than 5.5 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of the spines).
(d) Red sea urchins in Sea Urchin Districts 3 and 4: Unlawful to harvest urchins smaller than 3.25 inches or larger than 5.0 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).
(3) Shellfish diver gear:
(a) It is unlawful to take sea urchins by any means other than shellfish diver gear.
(b) Divers may only use hand-operated equipment that does not penetrate the shell.
(c) Sea urchins may not be taken from water shallower than 10 feet below mean lower low water.
(d) Purple sea urchins may not be taken.
(e) Divers operating from a vessel must have a number assigned by the department, placed on both sides and the top of the vessel in such a manner that the number is clearly visible when the vessel is viewed from either side or from the air and the number must be black on white no less than 18 inches high and of proportionate width.
(f) Divers may not take sea urchins from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
(g) No processing of sea urchins is permitted aboard the harvest vessel.
(h) Divers may not take sea urchins for use other than as human food.
(i) Only one diver from each harvesting vessel is allowed in the water at any one time during the sea urchin harvesting operation or when commercial quantities of sea urchins are aboard except that two divers may be in the water if the vessel has been designated on two sea urchin dive fishery licenses.
(j) Variance from any of the provisions of this subsection is only allowed if authorized by a permit issued by the director.
(k) Licensing: A sea urchin dive fishery license is the license required to operate the gear provided for in this section.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 04-17-096 (Order 04-210), § 220-52-073, filed 8/17/04, effective 9/17/04; 02-17-016 (Order 02-186), § 220-52-073, filed 8/9/02, effective 9/9/02; 01-07-021 (Order 01-40), § 220-52-073, filed 3/14/01, effective 4/14/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 00-03-042 (Order 00-07), § 220-52-073, filed 1/13/00, effective 2/13/00; 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-073, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; 91-22-064 (Order 91-132), § 220-52-073, filed 11/1/91, effective 12/2/91; 91-10-024 (Order 91-22), § 220-52-073, filed 4/23/91, effective 5/24/91; 87-23-006 (Order 87-187), § 220-52-073, filed 11/6/87; 87-15-022 (Order 87-69), § 220-52-073, filed 7/8/87; 86-20-028 (Order 86-123), § 220-52-073, filed 9/23/86; 85-01-010 (Order 84-214), § 220-52-073, filed 12/7/84; 83-04-025 (Order 83-04), § 220-52-073, filed 1/27/83; 80-13-064 (Order 80-123), § 220-52-073, filed 9/17/80; 79-02-053 (Order 79-6), § 220-52-073, filed 1/30/79; Order 77-145, § 220-52-073, filed 12/13/77; Order 76-152, § 220-52-073, filed 12/17/76; Order 1105, § 220-52-073, filed 12/28/73; Order 990, § 220-52-073, filed 5/11/72.]