WSR 16-14-033 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [16-161—Filed June 27, 2016, 4:16 p.m., effective June 27, 2016, 4:16 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend coastal commercial crab fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-52-040.
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 is needed because a change in the weekly landing limits and periods is necessary to mitigate handling mortality from sorting soft shelled crab and provide for an orderly fishery. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 27, 2016.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-04000T Coastal crab fishery—Weekly trip limits
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-040:
(1) Effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful for any person licensed to fish under a Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license to possess or land crab in excess of 2,500 pounds taken during each of the following coastal crab accounting periods:
July 3 – July 9, 2016;
July 10 – July 16, 2016;
July 17 – July 23, 2016;
July 24 – July 30, 2016;
July 31 – August 6, 2016;
August 7 – August 13, 2016;
August 14 – August 20, 2016;
August 21 – August 27, 2016;
August 28 – September 3, 2016;
September 4 – September 10, 2016;
September 11 – September 15, 2016.
(2) Any crab taken prior to July 3, 2016, and not landed before 11:59 p.m. July 2, 2016, become part of the July 3 through July 9, 2016 accounting period catch.
(3) It is unlawful for any person taking crab under subsection (1) of this section to fish for crab during any accounting period while having on board any crab taken in a different accounting period.
|