WSR 15-07-019 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 15-39—Filed March 9, 2015, 3:49 p.m., effective March 10, 2015, 6:30 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: March 10, 2015, 6:30 p.m.
Purpose: Amend Puget Sound commercial crab fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-04000B and 220-52-04600I; and amending WAC 220-52-040 and 220-52-046.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, and 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 emergency rule continues the closure of the commercial crab harvest in Region 2 East of Puget Sound as the commercial allotment in Region 2 East has been reached. This emergency rule continues the closure of the commercial crab fishery in Region 3-2. The state has reached the full allocation in Region 2 East and Region 3-2. This emergency rule closes the commercial crab fishery in Region 2 West. The state will reach the "fish to equity" goal and obtained a 50/50 share of the allocation on the date specified in this rule. These provisions are in conformity with agreed management plans with applicable tribes, entered into as required by court order. The Puget Sound commercial season is structured to meet harvest allocation objectives negotiated with applicable treaty tribes and outlined in the management plans. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: March 9, 2015.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-04000C Commercial crab fishery—Lawful and unlawful gear, methods, and other unlawful acts.
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-040, effective 6:30 p.m. March 10, 2015, until further notice:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to fish for crabs for commercial purposes with more than 30 pots per license per buoy tag number in Crab Management Region 1. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B.
(b) The remaining buoy tags per license per region over the pot limits for the area fished must be onboard the designated vessel and available for inspection upon request.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-040, WAC 220-52-043 and WAC 220-52-046, effective immediately, until further notice: It is unlawful to retain any salmon, food fish, or shellfish, except octopus and Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes spp.), taken incidental to any commercial crab fishing.
(a) Tanner crabs may only be retained in Crab Region 1 (defined as all waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B) and Crab Region 3-1 (defined as all waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23A and 23B.)
(b) It is unlawful to retain Tanner crabs other than males with a minimum width of 4.5 inches across the widest point in the carapace.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-04600J Puget Sound crab fishery—Seasons and areas.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-046:
(1) Effective immediately, until further notice, it is permissible to fish for Dungeness crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:
(a) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 20A between a line from the boat ramp at the western boundary of Birch Bay State Park to the western point of the entrance of the Birch Bay Marina and a line from the same boat ramp to Birch Point.
(b) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22B in Fidalgo Bay south of a line projected from the red number 4 entrance buoy at Cape Sante Marina to the northern end of the eastern most oil dock.
(c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Deer Harbor north of a line projected from Steep Point to Pole Pass.
(2) Effective 6:30 p.m., March 10, 2015, Crab Management Region 2 West is closed. Region 2 west includes all waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 25B, 25D and 26A West.
(3) Effective immediately, until further notice, the following areas are closed to commercial crab fishing:
(a) All of Crab Management Region 2 East. Region 2 East includes all waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and 26A East.
(b) All of Crab Management Region 3-2. Region 3-2 includes all waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23D, 25A and 25E.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed effective 6:30 p.m. March 10, 2015:
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