EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: July 11, 2012, 9:00 p.m.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-32500D and 220-56-32500E; and 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. The state recreational share of spot shrimp has been taken in Marine Area 6; in addition, the spot shrimp fishery in Marine Areas 4 and 5 will be closed 9:00 p.m. September 15, 2012, to protect spot shrimp during the onset of the egg-bearing period. 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. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 3, 2012.
Joe Stohr
for Philip Anderson
Director
1) Effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess shrimp taken for personal use in all waters of Marine Area 6 and Marine Area 7, except as provided for in this section:
a. Marine Area 6, and 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) Effective immediately until 9:00 p.m. September 15, 2012, all waters of Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and Marine Area 5, are open to the harvest of all shrimp species.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative
Code is repealed effective 9:00 p.m. July 11, 2012:
| WAC 220-56-32500D | Shrimp--Areas and seasons. (12-103) |
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective October 16, 2012:
| WAC 220-56-32500E | Shrimp--Areas and seasons. |