Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: Amend personal use rules.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-56-32500I; and amending WAC 220-56-325.

     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 spot shrimp fishery will be closed on September 16 in areas closed by this rule, to protect spot shrimp during the onset of the egg-bearing period. 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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) Effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess shrimp taken for personal use in all waters of Marine Area 7, except as provided for in this section.

     a) Marine Area 7 north of a line from the Biz Point on Fidalgo Island to Cape Saint Mary on Lopez Island, then north of a line from Davis Point on Lopez Island to Cattle Point on San Juan Island, then north of a line due west from Lime Kiln Point light to the international boundary:

     i) Open to the harvest of all shrimp species except Spot shrimp. It is unlawful to possess Spot shrimp, and all Spot shrimp must immediately be returned to the water unharmed.

     ii) It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 200 feet deep.

     2) Effective immediately until further notice, all waters equal to or less than 150 feet in depth in Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9 and 11 are open to the harvest of all shrimp species except Spot shrimp. All Spot shrimp caught must be returned to the water immediately. It is unlawful to set or pull shrimp gear in waters greater than 150 feet deep.

     3) Effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for or possess shrimp taken for personal use in all waters of Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line. Marine Areas 5, 6 and 13 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District) are open daily to the harvest of all shrimp species, except spot shrimp. It is unlawful to possess spot shrimp, and all spot shrimp must immediately be

     a) returned to the water unharmed.

[]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 220-56-32500I

Shrimp -- Areas and seasons (08-145)

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office