WSR 15-05-015
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 15-24—Filed February 6, 2015, 12:05 p.m., effective February 6, 2015, 12:05 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules for sea urchins.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-07300N; and amending WAC 220-52-073.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 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: Harvestable surpluses of green and red sea urchins exist in the sea urchin districts specified to allow for commercial harvest. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 6, 2015.
Joe Stohr
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-07300P Sea urchins
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-073, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) The following area is open to red sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: district 4 west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 52.7 minutes west longitude. It is unlawful to harvest red sea urchins smaller than 3.25 inches or larger than 5.0 inches (size is largest test diameter exclusive of spines).
(2) The following areas are open to green sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: district 1, district 2, 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. It is unlawful to harvest green sea urchins smaller than 2.25 inches (size is largest test diameter exclusive of spines).
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative code is repealed:
WAC 220-52-07300N
Sea urchins. (15-22)