[Order 19-236—Filed September 26, 2019, 3:43 p.m., effective October 1, 2019, 8:00 a.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2019, 8:00 a.m.

Purpose: Amend commercial crab fishery rules for Puget Sound.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-340-420, 220-340-455, and 220-352-340.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

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 provisions of this rule will reopen the commercial crab harvest areas at 8:00 a.m., October 1, 2019, in Puget Sound with a limit of fifty pots per license per buoy tag number in all commercial crab regions. There is sufficient allocation available in all of the commercial regions to accommodate this opening. These provisions are in conformity with agreed management plans with applicable tribes. These management plans are entered into as required by court order. The Puget Sound commercial season is structured to meet harvest allocation objectives negotiated with applicable treaty tribes and outlined in the management plans. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 3, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 26, 2018 [2019].

WAC 220-340-42000VCommercial crab fishery—Unlawful acts.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-420:

(1) It is permissible to deploy Dungeness crab pots for commercial purposes starting at 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2019 until 7:00 p.m. October 2, 2019, in Region 1, Region 3-1 and Region 3-3 from a vessel not designated on a person's Puget Sound crab license, provided that the primary or alternate operator designated on the license is on board the non-designated vessel ("barge" vessel), and prior notice has been given as provided below. Crab pots may only be deployed during daylight hours.

(2) Barging is not allowed in Region 2 East, Region 2 West and Region 3-2. This includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 26A-E, 25B, 25D, 26A-W, 23D, 25A and 25E.

(3) The licensed owner must leave a telephone message at the Mill Creek office, (425) 775-1311 ext. 112, or send an email to crabreport@dfw.wa.gov,detailing the following information:

(a) Name and license number of licensed owner.

(b) Name of designated primary operator if different from licensed owner.

(d) Buoy brand number and number of pots to be deployed from a non-designated vessel.

(e) Name and identification numbers (WN and/or Coast Guard) of the non-designated vessel.

(4) Additional area gear limits. The following Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas are restricted in the number of pots fished, operated, or used by a person or vessel, and it is unlawful for any person to use, maintain, operate, or control pots in excess of the following limits: No commercial gear is allowed in that portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 25A west of the 123o7.0' longitude line projected from the new Dungeness light due south to the shore of Dungeness Bay.

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.

WAC 220-340-45500WCommercial crab fishery—Seasons and areas—Puget Sound.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-450:

(1) Effective 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2019, until further notice, it is unlawful for any person to fish for crabs for commercial purposes with more than 50 pots per license per buoy tag number in Crab Management Regions 1, Region 2 East, Region 2 West, Region 3-1, Region 3-2, or Region 3-3. These regions include Marine Fish-Shellfish Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B, 23C, 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 25B, 25D, 26A East, 26A West and 29.

(2) All remaining buoy tags per license per region must be onboard the designated vessel and available for immediate inspection.

(3) Effective 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2019, until further notice, it is permissible to fish for Dungeness crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:

(a) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 20A between a line from the boat ramp at the western boundary of Birch Bay State Park to the western point of the entrance of the Birch Bay Marina and a line from the same boat ramp to Birch Point.

(b) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22B in Fidalgo Bay south of a line projected from the red number 4 entrance buoy at Cape Sante Marina to the northern end of the eastern most oil dock.

(c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Deer Harbor north of a line projected from Steep Point to Pole Pass.

(4) Effective 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2019, until further notice, it is permissible to fish for Dungeness crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:

Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A-W in Useless Bay north and east of a line from the south end of the Double Bluff State Park seawall (47°58.782'N, 122°30.840'W) projected 110 degrees true to the boulder on shore (47°57.690'N, 122°26.742'W).

(5) Effective 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2019, until further notice, it is permissible to fish for Dungeness crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:

(a) Port Gardner: That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Catch Reporting Area 26A east of a line projected from the outermost tip of the ferry dock at Mukilteo, projected to the green #3 buoy at the mouth of the Snohomish River, and west of a line projected from that #3 buoy southward to the oil boom pier on the shoreline.

(b) Possession Point to Glendale: That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A east of a line that extends true north from the green #1 buoy at Possession Point to Possession Point, and west of a line from the green #1 buoy at Possession Point extending northward along the 200-foot depth contour to the Glendale dock.

(c) Langley: That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24C shoreward of the 400-foot depth contour within an area described by two lines projected northeasterly from Sandy Point and the entrance to the marina at Langley.

(6) Effective 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2019, until further notice, the following areas are closed to commercial crab fishing:

(a) That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 25A west of the 123o7.0' longitude line projected from the new Dungeness light due south to the shore of Dungeness Bay.

(b) That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 23D west of a line from the eastern tip of Ediz Hook to the ITT Rayonier Dock.

(c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24A east of a line projected true north from the most westerly tip of Skagit Island and extending south to the most westerly tip of Hope Island, thence southeast to Seal Rocks, thence southeast to the green can buoy at the mouth of Swinomish Channel, thence easterly to the west side of Goat Island.

Reviser's note: The typographical error 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.

WAC 220-352-34000BPuget Sound crab—Additional reporting requirements.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-352-340, effective 8:00 am, October 1, 2019, until further notice, it is unlawful for any wholesale dealer acting in the capacity of an original receiver of Dungeness crab taken by non-treaty fishers from Puget Sound to fail to report to the department the previous day's purchases by 10:00 a.m. the following day. Reports must be made by fax to (425) 338-1066 or by e-mail at crabreport@dfw.wa.gov, and must specify the dealer name, dealer phone number, date of delivery of crab to the original receiver, and the total number of pounds of crab caught by non-treaty fishers, by Crab Management Region or by Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area.

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.