Section 220-52-046. Commercial crab fishery—Seasons and areas—Puget Sound.

The open times and areas for commercial crab fishing in Puget Sound are as follows:

(1) All Puget Sound Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas are open for commercial crab fishing beginning 8:00 a.m. October 1st through the following April 15th from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, except as provided below.

(2) For purposes of crab harvest allocation, fishing season, and catch reporting, the Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas (Catch Areas) are modified as follows:

(a) Catch Area 26A-E includes those waters of Puget Sound south of a line from Sandy Point (on Whidbey Island) to Camano Head and from Camano Head to the north tip of Gedney Island, and from the southern tip of Gedney Island east to the mainland, and north and east of a line that extends from Possession Point to the shipwreck located 0.8 nautical miles north of Picnic Point.

(b) Catch Area 26A-W includes those waters of Puget Sound south and east of a line from Foulweather Bluff to Double Bluff, and northerly of a line from Apple Cove Point to Point Edwards, and south and west of a line that extends from Possession Point to the shipwreck located 0.8 nautical miles north of Picnic Point.

(3) The following areas are closed to commercial crab fishing except for treaty Indian commercial crab fishing where the treaty Indian crab fisher is following tribal openings that are in accordance with provisions of court orders in United States v. Washington:

(a) Areas 25C, 26B, 26C, 26D, 27A, 27B, 27C, 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D.

(b) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 20A in Lummi Bay east of a line projected from the entrance buoy at Sandy Point to Gooseberry Point.

(c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 21A in Bellingham Bay west of a line projected from the exposed boulder at Point Francis to the pilings at Stevie's Point.

(d) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24A east of a line projected north from the most westerly tip of Skagit Island and extending south to the most westerly tip of Hope Island, thence southeast to Seal Rocks, thence southeast to the green can buoy at the mouth of Swinomish Channel, thence easterly to the west side of Goat Island.

(e) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24B inside a line projected from Priest Point to the five-meter tower between Gedney Island and Priest Point, thence northwesterly on a line between the five-meter tower and Barnum Point to the intersection with a line projected true west from Kayak Point, thence east to shore.

(f) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 25A west of a line from the new Dungeness Light to the abandoned dock at the Three Crabs Restaurant.

(g) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 25D within a line projected from the Point Hudson Marina entrance to the northern tip of Indian Island, thence to Kala Point, and thence following the shoreline to the point of origin.

(4) The following areas are closed to commercial crab fishing during the periods indicated:

(a) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 20A between a line from the boat ramp at the western boundary of Birch Bay State Park to the western point of the entrance of the Birch Bay Marina and a line from the same boat ramp to Birch Point, are closed October 1 through October 31 and March 1 through April 15.

(b) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24C inshore of the 400 foot depth contour within an area bounded by parallel lines projected northeasterly from Sandy Point and the entrance to the marina at Langley are closed October 1 through October 15.

(c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A-W in Useless Bay north and east of a line from the south end of the Double Bluff State Park seawall (47°58.782'N, 122°30.840'W) projected 110 degrees true to the boulder on shore (47°57.690'N, 122°26.742'W) are closed from October 1 through October 15.

(d) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22B in Fidalgo Bay south of a line projected from the red number 4 entrance buoy at Cap Sante Marina to the northern end of the easternmost oil dock are closed October 1 through October 31, and March 1 through April 15, of each year.

(e) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Deer Harbor north of a line projected from Steep Point to Pole Pass are closed October 1 through October 31 and March 1 through April 15.

(f) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A-E east of a line that extends true north from the green No. 1 buoy at Possession Point to Possession Point and west of a line from the green No. 1 buoy at Possession Point northward along the 200-foot depth contour to the Glendale Dock, are closed October 1 through October 15.

(5) The following areas are closed to commercial crab fishing until further notice:

(a) Those waters of Area 25E south of a line from Contractors Point to Tukey Point.

(b) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24A within a line projected from Rocky Point northeast to the red number 2 buoy north of Ustalady Point, thence to Brown Point on the northeast corner of Ustalady Bay.

(c) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24D south of a line from the point at the southern end of Honeymoon Bay (48°03.047'N, 122°32.306'W) to the point just north of Beverly Beach.

(d) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A east of a line projected from the outermost tip of the ferry dock at Mukilteo to the green #3 buoy at the mouth of the Snohomish River, and west of a line projected from the #3 buoy southward to the oil boom pier on the shoreline.

(e) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 21B in Samish Bay south of a line from Point Williams to Fish Point in waters shallower than 60 feet in depth.

(f) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Westcott and Garrison Bays east of a line projected due south from Point White to San Juan Island.

(g) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 20A in Birch Bay east of a line projected from the boat ramp at the western boundary of Birch Bay State Park to the western point of the entrance to the Birch Bay Marina.

(h) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 21A inside of Chuckanut Bay east of a line projected north from Governor's Point to the east side of Chuckanut Island, thence to Chuckanut Rock, thence to the most southerly tip of Clark's Point.

(i) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Blind Bay south of a line projected due west from Point Hudson to its intersection with Shaw Island.

(j) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Fisherman Bay south of a line projected east-west through the red number 4 entrance buoy.

(k) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in Mud Bay south of a line projected through Crab and Fortress Islands intersecting Lopez Island at either end.

(l) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22B in Padilla Bay within a line projected easterly from the northern end of the eastern most oil dock at March Point to the red number 2 buoy, thence southeasterly to the red number 8 buoy, thence west to shore and following the shoreline to the point of origin.

(m) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 24A in Cornet Bay south of a line projected true east and west from the northernmost tip of Ben Ure Island.

(n) That portion of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 20B, which includes all waters of Prevost Harbor between Stuart Island and Satellite Island southwest of a line from Charles Point on Stuart Island to the northwest tip of Satellite Island and southwest of a line projected 120 degrees true from the southeast end of Satellite Island to Stuart Island.

(o) Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A in East Sound north of a line from the southern point of Judd Bay on the west to Giffin Rocks on the east.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 12-23-016 (Order 12-267), § 220-52-046, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-23-090 (Order 07-285), § 220-52-046, filed 11/20/07, effective 12/21/07; WSR 06-08-064 (Order 06-58), § 220-52-046, filed 3/31/06, effective 5/1/06; WSR 06-01-013 (Order 05-275), § 220-52-046, filed 12/9/05, effective 1/9/06; WSR 01-11-009 (Order 01-74), § 220-52-046, filed 5/3/01, effective 6/3/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 99-10-062 (Order 99-59), § 220-52-046, filed 5/3/99, effective 6/3/99; WSR 98-19-012 (Order 98-185), § 220-52-046, filed 9/4/98, effective 10/5/98; WSR 98-05-043, § 220-52-046, filed 2/11/98, effective 3/14/98; WSR 97-08-052 (Order 97-55), § 220-52-046, filed 3/31/97, effective 5/1/97; WSR 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-046, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; WSR 93-15-051, § 220-52-046, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; WSR 91-10-024 (Order 91-22), § 220-52-046, filed 4/23/91, effective 5/24/91; WSR 87-05-038 (Order 87-08), § 220-52-046, filed 2/18/87; WSR 85-01-010 (Order 84-214), § 220-52-046, filed 12/7/84; WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-52-046, filed 3/27/84; WSR 83-01-026 (Order 82-221), § 220-52-046, filed 12/8/82; WSR 80-13-064 (Order 80-123), § 220-52-046, filed 9/17/80; Order 76-152, § 220-52-046, filed 12/17/76; Order 1179, § 220-52-046, filed 11/19/74; Order 1112, § 220-52-046, filed 4/15/74; Order 1057, § 220-52-046, filed 5/22/73; Order 920, § 220-52-046, filed 5/13/71; Order 807, § 220-52-046, filed 1/2/69, effective 2/1/69. Formerly WAC 220-52-040 (2), (3), (4) and (9).]

RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 12-23-016 (Order 12-267), § 220-52-046, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-23-090 (Order 07-285), § 220-52-046, filed 11/20/07, effective 12/21/07; WSR 06-08-064 (Order 06-58), § 220-52-046, filed 3/31/06, effective 5/1/06; WSR 06-01-013 (Order 05-275), § 220-52-046, filed 12/9/05, effective 1/9/06; WSR 01-11-009 (Order 01-74), § 220-52-046, filed 5/3/01, effective 6/3/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 99-10-062 (Order 99-59), § 220-52-046, filed 5/3/99, effective 6/3/99; WSR 98-19-012 (Order 98-185), § 220-52-046, filed 9/4/98, effective 10/5/98; WSR 98-05-043, § 220-52-046, filed 2/11/98, effective 3/14/98; WSR 97-08-052 (Order 97-55), § 220-52-046, filed 3/31/97, effective 5/1/97; WSR 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-046, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; WSR 93-15-051, § 220-52-046, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; WSR 91-10-024 (Order 91-22), § 220-52-046, filed 4/23/91, effective 5/24/91; WSR 87-05-038 (Order 87-08), § 220-52-046, filed 2/18/87; WSR 85-01-010 (Order 84-214), § 220-52-046, filed 12/7/84; WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-52-046, filed 3/27/84; WSR 83-01-026 (Order 82-221), § 220-52-046, filed 12/8/82; WSR 80-13-064 (Order 80-123), § 220-52-046, filed 9/17/80; Order 76-152, § 220-52-046, filed 12/17/76; Order 1179, § 220-52-046, filed 11/19/74; Order 1112, § 220-52-046, filed 4/15/74; Order 1057, § 220-52-046, filed 5/22/73; Order 920, § 220-52-046, filed 5/13/71; Order 807, § 220-52-046, filed 1/2/69, effective 2/1/69. Formerly WAC 220-52-040 (2), (3), (4) and (9).