WSR 21-11-089
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 21-67—Filed May 18, 2021, 3:00 p.m., effective May 18, 2021, 3:00 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to shift the southern boundary of the Quinault SMA to the Moclips River.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-42000M and 220-340-45000C; and amending WAC 220-340-420 and 220-340-450.
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: Tribal special management area descriptions conform with recent state/tribal agreements and recent state/tribal discussions regarding in-season modifications.
The Westport Boat Basin is closed to commercial crab fishing to prevent conflicts with vessel traffic in a limited area.
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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: May 18, 2021.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-42000NCommercial crab fishery—Unlawful acts.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-420, effective immediately and until further notice:
(1) It is unlawful for a vessel to use more than 150 pots in the area between the Copalis River (47°08.00') and Moclips River (47°14.80') shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve, from 8:00 a.m. May 21, 2021, until further notice. Fishers must pre-register with the Department of Fish and Wildlife 24 hours prior to deploying gear in this area by one of the three following methods:
| |
| • | Fax transmission to Robert Morgan at 360-249-1229; |
| • | E-mail to Robert Morgan at Robert.Morgan@dfw.wa.gov; or |
| • | Telephone call to Robert Morgan at 360-470-8596. |
(2) It unlawful for a vessel to use more than 100 pots in the area between Cape Johnson (47°58.00') and Destruction Island (47°40.50') shoreward of a line approximating the 30-fathom depth curve, from 8:00 am May 1, 2021 until 8:00 a.m. June 1, 2021. Fishers must pre-register with the Department of Fish and Wildlife 24 hours prior to deploying gear in this area by one of the three following methods:
| |
| • | Fax transmission to Robert Morgan at 360-249-1229; |
| • | E-mail to Robert Morgan at Robert.Morgan@dfw.wa.gov; or |
| • | Telephone call to Robert Morgan at 360-470-8596. |
(3) Unless otherwise amended all other provisions of the permanent rule remain in effect
Reviser's note: The unnecessary underscoring
in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-45000DCommercial crab fishery—Seasons and areas—Coastal.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-450, effective immediately until further notice: it is unlawful to fish for Dungeness crab in Washington coastal waters, the Pacific Ocean, Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, or the Columbia River, except as provided in this section:
(1) Open area: The area from the WA/OR border (46°15.00) to the US-Canadian border. For the purposes of this section, the waters of Willapa Bay include the marine waters east of a line connecting 46°44.76 N, 124°05.76 W and 46°38.93 N, 124°04.33 W.
(2) The Quinault Secondary Special Management Area (SSMA) is closed to fishing for Dungeness crab starting at 8:00 a.m., May 21, 2021, from the area shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve between the Moclips River (47°14.80) and Split Rock (47°24.50). This area will be closed until further notice. This SSMA is described by the following coordinates:
(a) Northeast Corner (Split Rock): 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°20.00 W. Lon.
(b) Northwest Corner: 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°32.40 W. Lon.
(c) Southwest Corner: 47°14.80' N. Lat. 124°28.43' W. Lon.
(d) Southeast Corner (Moclips River): 47°14.80' N. Lat. 124°13.20' W. Lon.
(3) It is unlawful to fish for Dungeness crab in the Westport Boat Basin as defined in WAC 220-300-320.
(4) Unless otherwise amended all other provisions of the permanent rule remain in effect.
Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
WAC 220-340-42000M | Commercial crab fishery—Unlawful acts. (21-53) |
WAC 220-340-45000C | Commercial crab fishery—Seasons and areas—Coastal. (21-53) |