WSR 17-16-089 EMERGENCY RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 17-177—Filed July 27, 2017, 11:47 a.m., effective August 1, 2017] Effective Date of Rule: August 1, 2017.
Purpose: Amend commercial sea cucumber fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-340-730.
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 emergency rule is needed to open the 2017-18 commercial sea cucumber fishery because harvestable surpluses of sea cucumbers exist in the districts specified to allow for 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 27, 2017.
James B. Scott, Jr.
for J. W. Unsworth
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-340-73000A Commercial sea cucumbers fishery.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-340-730, effective August 1, 2017, until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea cucumbers taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:
(1) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in Sea Cucumber District 1 Monday through Friday of each week.
(2) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in the following Marine Fish/Shellfish areas of Sea Cucumber District 2 Monday through Friday of each week: 29, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25E, 23A, 23D, and 23C. Sea cucumber harvest is not allowed within a closure zone in Area 23C west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 48.3 minutes west longitude and east of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123 degrees 52.7 minutes west longitude.
(3) Sea cucumber harvest using shellfish diver gear is allowed in the following areas of Sea Cucumber District 5 Monday through Friday of each week: 28B, 28C, 28D, and 28A except for all waters of Hale Passage and Wollochet Bay within the following lines: west of a line projected true south from the shoreline near Point Fosdick at 122° 35 minutes west longitude to 47° 14 minutes north latitude, and thence projected true west to the shoreline of Fox Island, and east of a line projected true south from the shoreline near Green Point at 122° 41 minutes west longitude to 47° 16.5 minutes north latitude, and thence projected true east to the shoreline of Fox Island.
(4) The maximum cumulative landing of sea cucumbers for each weekly fishery opening period is 2,500 pounds per valid designated sea cucumber harvest license.
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