WSR 97-01-002

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

(Fisheries)

[Order 96-206--Filed December 5, 1996, 12:02 p.m.]

Date of Adoption: December 5, 1996.

Purpose: Commercial fishing regulations.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-07300I; 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 has been taken in Marine Fish/Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, and 28A.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, amended 0, repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.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 5, 1996

Dirk Brazil

for Bern Shanks

Director

NEW SECTION

WAC 220-52-07300J 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, 3, and 4 are open only on December 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, and 23, 1996, and January 6, 7, 13, and 14, 1997. 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) Districts 3 and 4 3.25 minimum to 5.0 maximum inches.

(2) Green sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and Marine Fish/Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are open only on December 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, and 23, 1996, and January 6, 7, 13, and 14, 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:

December 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, and 21, 1996

January 4, 5, 11, and 12, 1997.

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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.

REPEALER

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed: