EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Date of Adoption: June 9, 1999.
Purpose: Commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-52-071 and 220-69-240.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 75.08.080.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: Harvestable amounts of sea cucumbers are available in all districts and areas listed. San Juan Channel and southwestern Haro Strait are closed consistent with state/tribal agreement. Titlow Beach Marine Preserve and Sund Rock Marine Preserve are closed to preserve the character of the Marine Preserves. Tatoosh Island closure is consistent with tribal agreements. Eagle Harbor and Sinclair Inlet are closed for health-related reasons. Two divers are allowed when a vessel is designated on two licenses, consistent with SB 5658 passed by the 1999 legislature. Daily reports of landings are needed to prevent overharvest of allocations in each management region; fish receiving tickets are not received and processed in a manner that permits timely closure of region. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: Immediately.
June 9, 1999
J. P. Koenings
Director
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-071, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea cucumbers taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) Effective 6:00 a.m. June 28, 1999 until further notice, sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in Sea Cucumber District 1 (Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B, and 23B), Sea Cucumber District 2 (Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23A, 23C, 23D, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25E, and 29), and Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 27A, 27B, 27C, 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each week from 6:00 a.m. to one-half hour before official sunset of each day, except for closures as provided for in this section.
(2) The following areas are closed to the harvest of sea cucumbers at all times:
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) Tatoosh Island - Those waters within one-quarter mile of Tatoosh Island.
(d) The waters of Eagle Harbor west of a line projected from Wing Point to Eagle Harbor Creosote Light Number 1 then due west to the shore on Bainbridge Island.
(e) The waters of Sinclair Inlet west of a line projected southerly from the easternmost point of Point Turner to landfall below the Veteran's Home in Annapolis.
(3) It is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially-licensed fishing vessel, except vessels actively fishing geoducks under contract with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, on June 26 and 27, July 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, August 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, 1999.
(4) Only one diver from each harvesting vessel is allowed in the water at any one time during the sea cucumber 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 cucumber dive fishery licenses.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-69-240, effective immediately until further notice:
(1) It is unlawful for any wholesale dealer purchasing sea cucumbers from non-treaty sea cucumber fishers to fail to report to the Department each day's purchase by 10:00 a.m. the following day. The report must specify the number of pounds taken by Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area. Either of the following two methods of reporting is acceptable.
(a) By facsimile (FAX) transmission to (360) 796-4997, or
(b) By telephone call to (360) 796-4601, extension 500.
(2) All fish receiving ticket reporting requirements of WAC 220-69-240 remain in effect.
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