[Order 18-337—Filed December 21, 2018, 1:50 p.m., effective December 24, 2018]

Effective Date of Rule: December 24, 2018.

Purpose: Puget Sound commercial sea urchin fisheries.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-75000H; and amending WAC 220-340-750.

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 is needed to close commercial sea urchin harvest in part of Districts 1 and 2 to prevent overharvest. Harvestable surpluses of sea urchin exist in the districts specified for commercial harvest. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 21, 2018.

WAC 220-340-75000ICommercial sea urchin fisheries.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-750, effective December 24, 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 red sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 2, and District 3 east of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 48.3 minutes west longitude, and District 4 west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 52.7 minutes west longitude. It is unlawful to fish for, take, or possess red sea urchins smaller than 3.25 inches or larger than 5.0 inches (size is largest test diameter exclusive of spines).

(2) The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin 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°35 minutes west longitude to 47°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°41 minutes west longitude to 47°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).

(3) The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week, provided a designated representative of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is on board the vessel: Marine Fish Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23B, 25A, and 25B in Sea Urchin District 2.

(4) The maximum cumulative landings for red sea urchin and green sea urchin for each weekly fishery opening period is 1,500 pounds per species per valid designated sea urchin harvest license. Each fishery week begins Monday and extends through Sunday.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective December 24, 2018:

Commercial sea urchin fisheries. (18-318)