WSR 07-03-046

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 07-07 -- Filed January 12, 2007, 11:24 a.m. , effective January 15, 2007, 5:00 p.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: January 15, 2007, 5:00 p.m.

     Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-04600X; and amending WAC 220-56-046.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 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: This closure complies with state/treaty management agreements for harvest allocation and to reduce fishing mortality in areas that do not meet the hardshell criteria. Gear retrieval period is to allow for inclement weather conditions. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: January 11, 2007.

J. P. Koenings

Director


NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-04600Z   Puget Sound crab fishery -- Seasons and areas.   Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-046:

     1) Effective 5:00 p.m. January 15, 2007 until further notice it will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Marine Fish Shellfish Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B.

     2) Effective 5:00 p.m. January 15, 2007 until 5 p.m. January 19, 2007 it will be lawful for crab fishers to remove their gear from those waters of Marine Fish Shellfish Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B. No crab may be retained, landed from, or possessed from these areas after 5:00 p.m. January 15, 2007.

     3) Effective immediately until further notice it will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area east of a line from the spiral staircase at Howarth Park due north to the south end of Gedney Island and that portion of 24B east of a line from the north end of Gedney Island to Camano Head and south of a line drawn from Camano Head to Hermosa Point (north end of Tulalip Bay).

     4) Effective immediately until further notice, it will be lawful to fish for Dungeness crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:

     (a) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area described by a line that extends due north from the green number 1 buoy at Scatchet Head to Scatchet Head, thence from the green number 1 buoy at Scatchet Head to the green number 1 buoy at Possession Point, thence due north from the green number 1 buoy at Possession Point to Possession Point.

     (b) Effective immediately until further notice, those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area east and north of a line that extends from Possession Point to the green number 1 buoy at Possession Point thence following the 200 foot contour northward to a point due east from the Glendale Dock, thence extending due west to the Whidbey Island shore.

     (c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area west of a line that extends from the spiral staircase at Howarth Park due north to the south end of Gedney Island and intersecting 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.

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REPEALER


     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed effective 5:00 p.m. January 15, 2007:


WAC 220-52-04600X Crab fishery -- Seasons and areas. (07-03)

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