WSR 19-18-041
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 19-203—Filed August 29, 2019, 2:14 p.m., effective September 2, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: September 2, 2019.
Purpose: Closes the commercial harvest of sea cucumbers in Puget Sound.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-73000M; and amending WAC 220-340-730.
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 necessary to close the Puget Sound commercial sea cucumber fishery in Sea Cucumber Management District 2-1 (23A, 23C, 23D, 29). The harvest quota is expected to be reached, and this closure is necessary to prevent overharvest. Harvestable surpluses of sea cucumbers remain in districts specified to remain open. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 29, 2019.
James B. Scott, Jr.
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-73000NCommercial sea cucumber fishery.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-730, effective September 2, 2019, until 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 Catch Reporting Areas of Sea Cucumber District 1, Monday through Sunday of each week: 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B.
(2) The maximum cumulative landing of sea cucumbers for each weekly fishery opening period is 1,800 pounds per valid designated sea cucumber harvest license.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective September 2, 2019:
WAC 220-340-73000M | Commerical sea cucumber fishery. (19-189) |