EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-56-325.
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: This regulation is needed to ensure an orderly fishery, manage within court-ordered sharing requirements, and to ensure conservation. Harvestable amounts of nonspot shrimp are available in several marine areas, and the depth restrictions and area closures are in effect to protect spot shrimp. The state recreational share of spot shrimp will have been taken in the southern portion of Marine Area 7. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: June 5, 2012.
Philip Anderson
Director
1) Effective June 7, 2012, until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess shrimp taken for personal use in all waters of Marine Area 7, except as provided for in this section:
a. Marine Area 7 north of a line from the Biz Point on Fidalgo Island to Cape Saint Mary on Lopez Island, then north of a line from Davis Point on Lopez Island to Cattle Point on San Juan Island, then north of a line due west from Lime Kiln Point light to the international boundary:
i. Open to the harvest of all shrimp species except spot shrimp. It is unlawful to possess spot shrimp, and all spot shrimp must immediately be returned to the water unharmed.
ii. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 200 feet deep.
2) Effective immediately until further notice, all waters equal to or less than 150 feet in depth in Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9 and 11 are open to the harvest of all shrimp species except spot shrimp. All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 150 feet deep.
3) Marine Area 13 is open to the harvest of all shrimp species except spot shrimp. It is unlawful to possess spot shrimp, and all spot shrimp must immediately be returned to the water unharmed.
4) Effective immediately until further notice, all waters of Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and Marine Areas 5 and 6, are open to the harvest of all shrimp species.
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