EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Date of Adoption: August 31, 1999.
Purpose: Commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: 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: Harvestable amounts of green sea urchins are available in Districts 3 and 4. Two divers are allowed when a vessel is designated on two licenses, consistent with SB 5658 passed by the 1999 legislature. There is insufficient time to promulgate 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: September 6, 1999, 12:01 a.m.
August 31, 1999
Jeff P. Koenings
Director
by Larry Peck
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-073, effective 12:01 a.m. September 6, 1999 until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) Green sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 3 and 4 are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays of each week. The minimum size for green sea urchins is 2.25 inches in diameter exclusive of the spines.
(2) Only one diver from each harvesting vessel is allowed in the water at any one time during the sea urchin harvest operation or when commercial quantities of sea cucumbers are aboard, except that two divers may be in the water if the vessel has been designated on two sea urchin dive fishery licenses.
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