WSR 09-20-007

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 09-223 -- Filed September 24, 2009, 2:47 p.m. , effective September 25, 2009, 9:00 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: September 25, 2009, 9:00 p.m.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-05100Y; and amending WAC 220-52-051.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020.

     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 2009 state/tribal shrimp harvest management plans for Puget Sound require adoption of harvest seasons contained in this emergency rule. This emergency rule closes the beam trawl fishery season in Shrimp Management Area 1B because the quota has been harvested. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 24, 2009.

Lori Preuss

for Philip Anderson

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-05100Z   Puget Sound shrimp pot and beam trawl fishery -- Season.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-051, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for shrimp for commercial purposes in Puget Sound, except as provided for in this section:

     (1) Shrimp pot gear:

     (a) All waters of Shrimp Management Areas 2E, 2W, 3 and 6 are open to the harvest of all shrimp species, excluding spot shrimp, until further notice, except that all waters of Catch Areas 23A-E, 23A-C, 23A-W, and the Discovery Bay Shrimp District are closed.

     (b) The shrimp accounting week is Monday through Sunday.

     (c) It is unlawful to pull shellfish pots for commercial purposes in more than one Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area per day. Fishers may move all of their shellfish pot gear from one Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area to another Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area if a harvest report is made before the shellfish pot gear is moved. The harvest activity report must be made consistent with the provisions of WAC 220-52-075 and must also include the following additional information:

     (i) The number of pots being moved to a new area; and

     (ii) The Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area that the pots are being moved to.

     (d) It is unlawful to set or pull shellfish pots in one Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area while in possession of shrimp harvested from another Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area, except shellfish pots may be set in a new fishing area subsequent to making a report as indicated in Section (1)(c) above.

     (2) Shrimp beam trawl gear:

     (a) Shrimp Management Area (SMA) 3 (outside of the Discovery Bay Shrimp District, Sequim Bay and Catch Area 23D) is open immediately until further notice. Sequim Bay includes those waters of Catch Area 25A south of a line projected west from Travis Spit on the Miller Peninsula.

     (b) All waters of Catch Area 20A are open immediately until further notice.

     (3) All shrimp taken under this section must be sold to licensed Washington wholesale fish dealers.

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REPEALER


     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 9:00 p.m. September 25, 2009:


WAC 220-52-05100Y Puget Sound shrimp pot and beam trawl fishery -- Season. (09-214)

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