Purpose: Personal use rules.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-32500R; and amending WAC 220-56-310, 220-56-315, 220-56-320, 220-56-325, and 220-56-330.

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: Stock assessment has shown there are sufficient shrimp available for recreational harvest. Recreational harvest scheduling has been agreed to under the shellfish subproceeding in United States v. Washington. There is insufficient time to promulgate permanent rules and still allow for a recreational fishery.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, amended 0, repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.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: May 16, 1998, 9:00 a.m.

May 4, 1998

Bern Shanks

Director

WAC 220-56-32500R  Shrimp and crab--Hood Canal. Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-56-310, 220-56-315, 220-56-320, 220-56-325 and 220-56-330, effective May 16, 1998 until further notice it is unlawful to fish for or possess shrimp from those waters of Hood Canal south of the Hood Canal floating bridge except as provided for in this section:

(1) Fishing for shrimp is allowed between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the following dates: May 16, 20, 23, and 27, 1998.

(2) No shrimp fisher may use more than one shrimp pot on any one day. All shrimp pots must conform to the Hood Canal shrimp pot requirements set forth in WAC 220-56-320(4). It shall be unlawful for the owner/operator of any boat to have on board or to fish more than four shrimp pots at any time from one boat. A boat is defined as a vessel in the water from which shrimp pots are set and pulled. No shrimp fishers may leave shrimp fishing gear in the water between:

1:00 p.m. May 16 and 9:00 a.m. May 20;

1:00 p.m. May 20 and 9:00 a.m. May 23;

1:00 p.m. May 23 and 9:00 a.m. May 27

or after 1:00 p.m. May 27, 1998.

(3) All unattended shrimp gear must be marked with a buoy, and the buoy must conform with the requirements and be marked as provided for in WAC 220-56-320(1). It is unlawful to have more than one shrimp pot attached to one line.

(4) It is unlawful for any one person to take in any one day more than eighty shrimp. The first eighty shrimp taken must be retained. After the eightieth shrimp has been retained by a fisher, the fisher must stop fishing and release all additional shrimp immediately to the water unharmed.

(5) The use of all crab pot gear is prohibited. No crab fisher may use more than two ring nets or two star traps, or more than one ring net and one star trap. No crab fisher may set or pull ring nets or star traps between one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.

(6) All unattended crab gear must be marked with a buoy, and the buoy must conform with the requirements and be marked as provided for in WAC 220-56-320(1).

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REPEALER

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 1:01 p.m. May 27, 1998:

WAC 220-56-32500R Shrimp and crab--Hood Canal.