WSR 16-06-018 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 16-28—Filed February 19, 2016, 3:59 p.m., effective February 19, 2016, 3:59 p.m.] Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: Amend commercial fishing rules for sea urchins.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-52-07300V; and amending WAC 220-52-073.
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: An emergency rule is needed to close the commercial harvest of green sea urchins in Districts 1 and 2 as the quota limit is approaching. Harvestable surpluses of green sea urchin exist in the districts specified to allow for commercial harvest. There is insufficient time to adopt 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 19, 2016.
J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-07300W Sea urchins
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-073, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 6 and District 7. It is unlawful to harvest green sea urchins smaller than 2.25 inches (size is largest test diameter exclusive of spines).
(2) The maximum cumulative landing of green sea urchins for each weekly fishery opening period is 3,000 pounds per valid designated sea urchin harvest license. It is permissible for all or any fraction of the maximum 3,000 pound total to be harvested during any legal harvest date within any legal harvest area so long as the cumulative total for the fishery week does not exceed the maximum. Each fishery week begins Monday and ends Sunday.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
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