EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: September 13, 2009.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-52-073.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.
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. Prohibiting all diving from licensed sea urchin harvest vessels within Sea Urchin District 3 when those vessels have red sea urchin on board discourages the taking of red urchins from the district (currently closed to red urchin harvest) and reporting the catch to the adjacent harvest district. Prohibiting transport of urchins from Districts 1 and 2 to other districts will prevent spoiling of product, promote accurate catch accounting, and provide for an orderly fishery. Prohibition of all diving from licensed sea urchin harvest vessels prior to scheduled 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 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 11, 2009.
Philip Anderson
Director
(1) Green sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 are open only on September 13, 14 and 15, 2009, and thereafter Monday and Tuesday of each week. The maximum daily landing of green sea urchins allowed in Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 is 1,000 pounds per valid designated sea urchin harvest license. Sea Urchin Districts 3, 4, 6 and 7 are open only on Monday through Friday of each week.
(2) Red sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1, 2 and 4 are open only on Monday through Friday of each week.
(3) It is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially licensed sea urchin fishing vessel in Sea Urchin District 3 when the vessel has red sea urchins on-board.
(4) Red and green sea urchins harvested in Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 must be landed within Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2.
(5) Except for Sunday September 13, 2009, it is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially licensed sea urchin fishing vessel on Saturday and Sunday of each week, unless written permission from the Director has been previously obtained.
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