[Order 23-187—Filed September 1, 2023, 4:15 p.m., effective September 1, 2023, 4:15 p.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to open additional days of recreational crab seasons in Marine Area 7 North.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-330-04000K and 220-330-04000L; and amending WAC 220-330-040.

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 is needed to adjust the recreational crab harvest season in Marine Area 7 North. Days are being added to compensate for a delay to the start of this fishery, which was originally scheduled for August 17 and was delayed until August 20 due to an abundance of crab in soft shell condition. Beginning on September 14, Marine Area 7 North will be open seven days per week through September 30, which will add four days to the season currently in place. This maintains the openings in the other marine areas listed to achieve the 50/50 harvest defined by the federal court order. Marine Area 12 south of a line projected due east from Ayock Point and Marine Area 13 will be closed. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 2.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 1, 2023.

WAC 220-330-04000LCrab—Areas and seasons—Personal use.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-330-040, effective immediately through September 30, 2023, it is unlawful to fish for crab for personal use in Puget Sound in all waters of Marine Areas, 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, except as provided herein:

(1) Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 8-1, 8-2, and 9: Effective immediately through 11:59 p.m. September 4, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

(2) Those waters of Marine Area 7 south and west of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island, through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island, thence to the buoy at Clements Reef, thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, thence running along the northern shore of Patos Island to the westernmost point of Patos Island, thence true west to the international boundary and south of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island: Effective immediately through 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

(3) Those waters of Marine Area 7 north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island: Effective immediately through 11:59 p.m. September 11, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. From 12:01 a.m. September 14, through 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use seven days per week.

(4) Marine Area 10: Effective immediately, through 11:59 p.m. September 4, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use on Sundays, and Mondays.

(5) Marine Area 11: Effective immediately, through 11:59 p.m. August 28, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use on Sundays, and Mondays.

(6) The portion of Marine Area 12 north of a line projected due east from Ayock Point: Effective immediately, through 11:59 p.m. September 4, 2023, it is permissible to fish for crab for personal use on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

(7) The portion of Marine Area 12 south of a line projected due east from Ayock Point: Closed until further notice.

(8) Marine Area 13: Closed until further notice.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

Crab—Areas and seasons—Personal use. (23-170)

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective October 1, 2023:

Crab—Areas and seasons—Personal use.