WSR 25-18-032
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-199—Filed August 22, 2025, 4:22 p.m., effective August 25, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: August 25, 2025.
Purpose: This emergency rule closes commercial harvest in sea cucumber District 2-2.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-340-73000X; 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 closes commercial harvest in sea cucumber District 2-2. Harvestable surpluses of sea cucumbers exist in the district specified. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 22, 2025.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-73000YCommercial sea cucumber fishery.
Effective August 25, 2025, until further notice, the following provisions of WAC 220-340-730 regarding Puget Sound commercial sea cucumber harvest seasons and landing limits shall be as described herein. All other provisions of WAC 220-340-730 not addressed herein, and unless otherwise amended, remain in effect:
(1) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in Sea Cucumber Districts 1 and 2-1, Monday through Sunday of each week.
(2) It is unlawful for any harvester to fish for, take, or possess for commercial purposes more than 1,500 split-drained pounds of sea cucumber per license for each weekly fishery opening period.
(3) The maximum cumulative landing of sea cucumbers from August 4 through November 16, 2025, is 9,900 split-drained pounds per valid designated sea cucumber harvest license.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective August 25, 2025:
WAC 220-340-73000X | Commercial sea cucumber fishery. (25-192) |