WSR 18-20-031
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 18-260—Filed September 24, 2018, 4:34 p.m., effective October 1, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2018.
Purpose: Amend commercial sea urchin fishery rules for Puget Sound.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-340-75000F [220-340-750].
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 allow for commercial harvest of green sea urchins because harvestable surpluses of green sea urchin exist in the areas specified. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 24, 2018.
Joe Stohr
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-75000FCommercial sea urchin fisheries.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-750, effective October 1, 2018, until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 2, District 3 east of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 48.3 minutes west longitude, District 4 west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 52.7 minutes west longitude, District 6, and District 7 except all waters of Hale Passage and Wollochet Bay within the following lines: west of a line projected true south from the shoreline near Point Fosdick at 122 degrees 35 minutes west longitude to 47 degrees 14 minutes north latitude, and thence projected true west to the shoreline of Fox Island, and east of a line projected true south from the shoreline near Green Point at 122 degrees 41 minutes west longitude to 47 degrees 16.5 minutes north latitude, and thence projected true east to the shoreline of Fox Island. It is unlawful to fish for, take, or possess green sea urchins smaller than 2.25 inches (size is largest test diameter exclusive of spines).
(2) The maximum cumulative landings for green sea urchins for each weekly fishery opening period is 1,500 pounds per valid designated sea urchin harvest license. Each fishery week begins Monday and ends Sunday.