[Order 20-07—Filed January 14, 2020, 2:15 p.m., effective January 14, 2020, 2:15 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: Amends coastal commercial crab rules.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-340-420 and 220-340-450.

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: Mandatory pick rate allowance for coastal crab will be achieved by the opening dates contained herein. The agreed to criteria to include the area north of Destruction Island has been achieved. The stepped opening periods/areas will also provide for fair start provisions. Pot limits will reduce the crowding effect in this restricted area and language improves enforcement of pot limits. A longer gear set period will allow for safer fishing conditions. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: January 14, 2020.

WAC 220-340-42000WCommercial crab fishery—Unlawful acts.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-420, effective immediately until further notice:

(1) It is unlawful for any fisher or wholesale dealer or buyer to land or purchase Dungeness crab taken from Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, Columbia River, or Washington coastal or adjacent waters of the Pacific Ocean from any vessel, unless:

(a) The vessel inspection certificate numbers are recorded on all shellfish tickets completed for coastal Dungeness crab landings until February 26, 2020 and;

(b) A valid Washington crab vessel inspection certificate has been issued to the delivering vessel. Vessel-hold inspection certificates dated from December 30, 2019 through January 23, 2020, are only valid for the area south of 46°28.00 N. Lat.

(2) Until 8:00 a.m., January 22, 2020, it is unlawful for persons participating in the Columbia River, Coastal, or Willapa Bay commercial Dungeness crab fishery south of Klipsan Beach (46°28.00) to:

(a) Deploy or operate more than 400 shellfish pots if the permanent number of shellfish pots assigned to the Coastal commercial crab fishery license held by that person is 500.

(b) Deploy or operate more than 250 shellfish pots if the permanent number of shellfish pots assigned to the Coastal Dungeness crab fishery license held by that person is 300.

(c) Fail to maintain onboard any participating vessel the excess crab pot buoy tags assigned to the Coastal Dungeness crab fishery license being fished.

(3) It is unlawful to possess or deliver Dungeness crab unless the following conditions are met:

(a) Vessels that participated in the coastal Dungeness crab fishery from Klipsan Beach (46°28.00 North Latitude) to Point Arena, CA, including Willapa Bay and the Columbia River, may possess crab for delivery into Washington ports south of 47°00.00 N. Lat., provided the crab were taken south of Klipsan (46°28.00 N. Lat.).

(b) The vessel does not enter the area north of 47°00.00 N. Lat. unless the operator of the vessel has contacted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife prior to entering this area. Prior to entering the area north of 47°00.00 N. Lat., the vessel operator must call 360-581-3337, and report the vessel name, operator name, estimated amount of crab to be delivered in pounds, and the estimated date, time, and location of delivery 24 hours prior to entering the area.

(4) It is unlawful for a vessel not designated on a Dungeness crab coastal fishery license to deploy crab pot gear except under the following conditions:

(a) The vessel deploys pot gear only during the 73-hour period immediately preceding the season opening date and during the 48-hour period immediately following the season opening date;

(b) The undesignated vessel carries no more than 250 crab pots at any one time; and;

(c) The primary or alternate operator of the crab pot gear named on the license associated with the gear is on board the undesignated vessel while the gear is being deployed.

(5) Unless otherwise amended all other provisions of the permanent rule remain in effect.

WAC 220-340-45000PCommercial crab fishery—Seasons and areas—Coastal.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-450 effective immediately until further notice: it is unlawful to fish for Dungeness crab in Washington coastal waters, the Pacific Ocean, Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, or the Columbia River, except as provided in this section.

(1) Open area: The area from Klipsan Beach (46°28.00) to the WA/OR border (46°15.00) and Willapa Bay.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the waters of Willapa Bay include the marine waters east of a line connecting 46°44.76 N, 124°05.76 W and 46°38.93 N, 124°04.33 W.

(b) Licenses and vessels designated to those licenses that participate in the coastal commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the waters from Point Arena, California, to Klipsan Beach, Washington (46°28.00), including Willapa Bay, before the area north of Klipsan Beach (46°28.00) opens, are prohibited from fishing in the following areas for the durations specified:

i. The waters between Klipsan Beach (46°28.00) and Oysterville (46°33.00) until 8:00 a.m. February 1, 2020; and

ii. The waters between Oysterville (46°33.00) and the U.S./Canada border until 8:00 a.m. February 26, 2020.

(2) Open area: The area from Klipsan Beach (46°28.00) to the US/Canada Border and Grays Harbor.

(a) It is permissible to set crab gear beginning at 8:00 a.m., January 22, 2020.

(b) It is permissible to pull crab gear beginning at 9:00 a.m., January 25, 2020.

(3) The Quinault primary special management area (PSMA) is closed to fishing for Dungeness crab until further notice. The PSMA includes the area shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve between Raft River (47º28.00) and Copalis River (47°08.00) according to the following coordinates:

(a) Northeast Corner (Raft River): 47°28.00' N. Lat. 124°20.70' W. Lon.

(b) Northwest Corner: 47°28.00' N. Lat. 124°34.00' W. Lon.

(d) Southeast Corner (Copalis River): 47°08.00' N. Lat. 124°11.20' W. Lon.

(4) The Quileute special management area (SMA) is closed to fishing for Dungeness crab until further notice. The SMA includes the area shoreward of a line approximating the 30-fathom depth curve between Destruction Island and Cape Johnson according to the following points:

(a) Northeast Corner (Cape Johnson): 47°58.00' N. Lat. 124°40.40' W. Lon.

(b) Northwest Corner: 47°58.00' N. Lat. 124°49.00' W. Lon.

(d) Southeast Corner (Destruction Island): 47°40.50' N. Lat. 124°24.43' W. Lon.

(5) The Makah special management area (SMA) is closed to fishing until further notice. The SMA includes the waters between 48°02.15 N. Lat. and 48°19.50 N. Lat. east of a line connecting those points and approximating the 25-fathom line according to the following coordinates:

(a) Northeast Corner (Tatoosh Island)

(b) Northwest Corner: 48°19.50' N. Lat. 124°50.45' W. Lon.

(d) Southeast Corner: 48°02.15' N. Lat. 124°41.00' W. Lon.

(6) Unless otherwise amended all other provisions of the permanent rule remain in effect.