[Order 21-15—Filed February 19, 2021, 6:07 p.m., effective February 22, 2021]

Effective Date of Rule: February 22, 2021.

Purpose: Amends rules for Puget Sound commercial sea urchins.

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

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 closes harvest of red sea urchins in Sea Urchin Management Districts 1 and 2 (21A, 21B, 22A, 22B) because the quota for red sea urchin in these areas has been reached. This closure is needed to fulfill obligations of state and tribal comanager agreements. Immediate adoption of this rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare. Observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to public interest. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 19, 2021.

WAC 220-340-75000BCommercial sea urchin fisheries.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-750, effective February 22, 2021, until further notice:

(1) It is unlawful for any person to fish for, take, or possess for commercial purposes any green sea urchins less than 2.25 inches; or red sea urchins measuring less than 3.25 inches or greater than 5 inches. All measurements are caliper measurements of the largest shell (test) diameter, exclusive of the spines.

(2) The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest only, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1; District 2 Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B, 23A; 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; 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.

(3) The following areas are open for red sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 2 Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23B, 25A, 25B; and District 4 west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 52.7 minutes west longitude.

(4) The maximum cumulative landings for green sea urchins and red sea urchins 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 ends Sunday.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective February 22, 2021:

Commercial sea urchin fisheries. (21-06)