[Order 21-237—Filed October 22, 2021, 2:20 p.m., effective October 25, 2021]

Effective Date of Rule: October 25, 2021.

Purpose: Closes commercial harvest of green sea urchin in parts of Sea Urchin District 2.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-75000E; 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 green sea urchins in parts of Sea Urchin District 2 (Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23B, 25A, 25B) to prevent overharvest. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 22, 2021.

WAC 220-340-75000FCommercial sea urchin fishery.

Effective October 25, 2021, until further notice, the provisions of WAC 220-340-750 regarding commercial harvest of sea urchins shall be modified as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-340-750 not addressed herein remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:

(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°52.7'W longitude to the international border, District 4 west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123°48.3'W longitude to the international border, District 6, and District 7 except all waters of Hale Passage and Wollochet Bay within the following lines: west and north of a line starting at Point Fosdick following longitude 122°35'W southward to latitude 47°14'N thence true west to Fox Island, and east and north of a line starting at Green Point following longitude 122°41'W southward to latitude 47°16.5'N thence true east to Fox Island.

(3) 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.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective October 25, 2021:

Commercial sea urchin fishery. (21-212)