Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-04600D; 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: This closure complies with state/treaty management agreements for allocation and to reduce fishing mortality in areas that do not meet the hardshell criteria. There is insufficient time to adopt 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: March 6, 2009.

Loreva M. Preuss

for Philip Anderson

Director

     1) Effective 7:00 p.m. March 20, 2009, until further notice, it will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Crab Management Region 1 (Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B).

     2) Effective 7:00 p.m. March 31, 2009, until further notice, it will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Crab Management Regions 2 West and 3 (Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, 25A, 25B, 25D, 25E, 26A West, and 29).

     3) Effective immediately until further notice, it will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Crab Management Region 2 East (Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, and 26A East).

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     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed immediately:

WAC 220-52-04600D

Crab fishery -- Seasons and areas. (09-15)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office