WSR 17-17-058 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Filed August 11, 2017, 2:18 p.m., effective August 12, 2017] Effective Date of Rule: August 12, 2017. Purpose: Amend commercial sea cucumber rules for Puget Sound. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-73000B; and amending WAC 220-340-730. 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 close the commercial harvest of sea cucumbers in District 2 East, Admiralty Inlet. The harvestable quota will be reached in this district. 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 Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 11, 2017. Joe Stohr for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-73000C Commercial sea cucumbers fishery.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-730, effective August 12, 2017, under further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea cucumbers taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in the following Marine Fish/Shellfish areas of Sea Cucumber District 1 Monday through Friday of each week: 20A and B, 21A and B, and 22A and B.
(2) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in the following Marine Fish/Shellfish areas of Sea Cucumber District 2 Monday through Friday of each week: 29, 23A, 23C, and 23D. Sea cucumber harvest is not allowed within a closure zone in Area 23C west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 48.3 minutes west longitude and east of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 52.7 minutes west longitude.
(3) The maximum cumulative landing of sea cucumbers for each weekly fishery opening period is 2,500 pounds per valid designated sea cucumber harvest license.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective August 12, 2017.
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