WSR 17-19-023
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 17-242—Filed September 8, 2017, 3:10 p.m., effective September 8, 2017, 3:10 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend commercial sea cucumber rules for Puget Sound.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-73000D; and amending WAC 220-340-730.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 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 is needed to lower the weekly trip limit to five hundred pounds to avoid overharvest in the commercial sea cucumber 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 8, 2017.
David Giglio
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-73000E Sea cucumbers.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-730, effective immediately under further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea cucumbers taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in the following Marine Fish/Shellfish areas of Sea Cucumber District 1 Monday through Friday of each week: 20A and B, 21A and B, and 22A and B.
(2) The maximum cumulative landing of sea cucumbers for each weekly fishery opening period is 500 pounds per valid designated sea cucumber harvest license.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-340-73000D
Sea Cucumbers. (17-204)