WSR 97-02-059
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
(Fisheries)
[Order 96-215--Filed December 30, 1996, 3:33 p.m.]
Date of Adoption: December 30, 1996.
Purpose: Commercial fishing regulations.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-07300K; and amending WAC 220-52-073.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 75.08.080.
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: The non-Indian share of green sea urchins will have been taken in Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 (San Juan area).
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, amended 0, repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
December 30, 1996
Betty Buckley
for Bern Shanks
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-07300L 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) Red sea urchins: Sea Urchin District 1, 2, and 4 are open only on January 6, 1997. The maximum daily landing for a vessel is 500 pounds of red sea urchins. It is unlawful to harvest red sea urchins larger or smaller than the following size (size in diameter exclusive of the spines):
(a) Districts 1 and 2 4.0 minimum to 5.5 maximum inches.
(b) District 4 3.25 minimum to 5.0 maximum inches.
(2) Green sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 3 and 4 are open only on January 6 and 7, 1997. The minimum size for green sea urchins is 2.25 inches in diameter exclusive of the spines.
(3) Sea Urchin Districts
(a) Sea Urchin District 2 (Southern San Juans and Port Townsend) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish/Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A south of a line projected east-west one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island and east of a line projected true north from Limestone Point on San Juan Island, and Areas 21A, 21B, 22B, 23A, 23B, 25A, and 25B. The following areas within Sea Urchin District 2 are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times.
(i) Those waters of Haro Strait north of a line projected east-west one-half mile south of Eagle Point on San Juan Island and south of a line projected east-west one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island.
(ii) Those waters of San Juan Channel and Upright Channel within the following lines: north of a line from Cattle Point on San Juan Island to Davis Point on Lopez Island, south of a line projected from Flat Point on Lopez Island true west to Shaw Island, west of a line from Neck Point on Shaw Island to Steep Point on Orcas Island, and south of a line from Steep Point on Orcas Island to Limestone Point on San Juan Island.
(4) It is unlawful for any person to dive for any purpose from a commercially-licensed fishing vessel, designated for use with a sea urchin fishery license, except vessels actively fishing geoducks under contract with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, on the following dates:
January 4 and 5, 1997.
[]
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is
repealed:
WAC 220-52-07300K Sea urchins. (96-212)