EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-05100H; and amending WAC 220-52-051.
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: The 2008 state/tribal shrimp harvest management plans for the Strait of Juan de Fuca and north Puget Sound require adoption of harvest seasons and the prohibition on night-time fishing contained in this emergency rule. This emergency rule closes the pot fishery season for spot shrimp in Puget Sound to protect egg bearing females as per the Puget Sound shrimp management plans. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 16, 2008.
Phil Anderson
for Jeff Koenings
Director
(1) Shrimp pot gear:
(a) All waters of Shrimp Management Areas 1B, 1C, 2E, 2W, 3 and 6 are open to the harvest of all shrimp species, excluding spot shrimp, until further notice, except as provided for in this section.
a. (i) All waters of Catch Areas 23A-E, 23A-C, 23A-W and the Discovery Bay Shrimp District are closed.
b. (ii) All spot shrimp caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
(b) The shrimp accounting week is Monday through Sunday.
(c) It is unlawful to fish for shrimp for commercial purposes in Puget Sound using shellfish pot gear in more than one Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area per day. Fishers may move all of their shellfish pot gear from one Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area to another Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area if a harvest report is made before the shellfish pot gear is moved. The harvest activity report must be made consistent with the provisions of WAC 220-52-075 and must also include the following additional information:
(i) The number of pots being moved to a new area, and the Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area that the pots are being moved to.
(d) It is unlawful to set or pull shellfish pots in one Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area while in possession of shrimp harvested from another Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area, except shellfish pots may be set in a new fishing area subsequent to making a report as indicated in Section 1(c) above.
(2) Shrimp beam trawl gear:
(a) Shrimp Management Area 3 is open immediately, until further notice, except as provided for in this section.
(i) Catch Areas 23A-E, 23B, 23D, 25A, Sequim Bay, and the Discovery Bay shrimp district are closed.
(b) That portion of Catch Areas 21A and 22A within Shrimp Management Area 1B is open immediately, until further notice.
(c) Catch Area 20A is open immediately, until further notice.
(3) It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp beam trawl gear from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.
(4) All shrimp taken under this section must be sold to licensed Washington wholesale fish dealers.
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 220-52-05100H | Puget Sound shrimp pot and beam trawl fishery. (08-230) |