[Order 15-93-Filed April 28, 2015, 8:58 a.m., effective April 28, 2015, 8:58 a.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
J. W. Unsworth
WAC 220-52-04500F Coastal crab seasons.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-046, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to fish for Dungeness crab in Washington coastal waters, the Pacific Ocean, Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, or the Columbia River, except as provided for in this section.
(1) The area from the WA/OR border (46°15.00) and the U.S./Canada Border, including Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor: Open.
(2) For the purposes of this order, the waters of Willapa Bay are defined to include the marine waters east of a line connecting 46°44.76 N, 124°05.76 W and 46°38.93 N, 124°04.33 W.
(3) The Quinault Secondary Special Management Area (SSMA) is closed to fishing for Dungeness crab from the area shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve between Split Rock (47°24.50) and the mouth of the Copalis River (47°08.00). The legal SSMA is defined by the following coordinates:
(a) Northeast Corner (Split Rock): 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°20.00 W. Lon.
(b) Northwest Corner: 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°32.40 W. Lon.
(c) Southwest Corner: 47°08.00 N. Lat. 124°25.50 W. Lon.
(d) Southeast Corner (Copalis River): 47°08.00 N. Lat. 124°11.20 W. Lon.
(4) It is unlawful for a vessel to use more than 200 pots in the area between Raft River (47°28.00) and Split Rock (47°24.50) shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve until 8:00 a.m. May 3, 2015. The area in which the pot limit applies is legally defined by the following coordinates:
(a) Northeast Corner (Raft River): 47°28.00 N. Lat. 124°20.70 W. Lon.
(b) Northwest Corner: 47°28.00 N. Lat. 124°34.00 W. Lon.
(c) Southwest Corner: 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°32.40 W. Lon.
(d) Southeast Corner (Split Rock): 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°20.00 W. Lon.
Fishers must pre-register with the Department of Fish and Wildlife 24 hours prior to deploying gear in this area by one of the three following methods:
. Fax transmission to Carol Henry at 360-249-1229;
. E-mail to: Carol Henry at Carol.Henry@dfw.wa.gov; or
. Telephone call to Carol Henry at 360-249-1296.
(5) The Quinault Secondary Special Management Area (SSMA) is modified and closed to fishing for Dungeness crab from the area shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve between Split Rock (47°24.50) and the mouth of the Joe Creek (47°12.11). This area is closed until further notice. The legal modified SSMA is defined by the following coordinates:
(a) Northeast Corner (Split Rock): 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°20.00 W. Lon.
(b) Northwest Corner: 47°24.50 N. Lat. 124°32.40 W. Lon.
(c) Southwest Corner: 47°12.11 N. Lat. 124°27.33 W. Lon.
(d) Southeast Corner (Joe Creek): 47°12.11 N. Lat. 124°12.28 W. Lon.
(6) It is unlawful for a vessel to use more than 200 pots in the area between the mouth of Joe Creek (47°12.11) and the mouth of the Copalis River (47°08.00) shoreward of a line approximating the 27-fathom depth curve and from the area until 8:00 a.m. May 10, 2015. The area in which the pot limit applies is legally defined by the following coordinates:
(a) Northeast Corner (Joe Creek): 47°12.11 N. Lat. 124°12.28 W. Lon.
(b) Northwest Corner: 47°12.11 N. Lat. 124°27.33 W. Lon.
(c) Southwest Corner: 47°08.00 N. Lat. 124°25.50 W. Lon.
(d) Southeast Corner (Copalis River): 47°08.00 N. Lat. 124°11.20 W. Lon.
Fishers must pre-register with the Department of Fish and Wildlife 24 hours prior to deploying gear in this area by one of the three following methods:
. Fax transmission to Carol Henry at 360-249-1229;
. E-mail to: Carol Henry at Carol.Henry@dfw.wa.gov; or
. Telephone call to Carol Henry at 360-249-1296.
(7) The Quileute Special Management Area (SMA) will open to fishing for Dungeness crab at 8:00 a.m. on May 1, 2015. The SMA includes the area shoreward of a line approximating the 30-fathom depth curve between Destruction Island and Cape Johnson according to the following points:
. Northeast Corner (Cape Johnson) 47°58.00' N. Lat. 124°40.40' W. Lon.
. Northwest Corner: 47°58.00' N. Lat. 124°49.00' W. Lon.
. Southwest Corner: 47°40.50' N. Lat. 124°40.00' W. Lon.
. Southeast Corner (Destruction Island): 47°40.50' N. Lat. 124°24.43' W. Lon.
(8) It is unlawful for a vessel to use more than 100 pots in the Quileute SMA from 8:00 a.m. May 1, 2015, until 8:00 a.m. May 31, 2015. Fishers must pre-register with the Department of Fish and Wildlife 24 hours prior to deploying gear in this area by one of the three following methods:
. Fax transmission to Carol Henry at 360-249-1229;
. E-mail to Carol Henry at Carol.Henry@dfw.wa.gov; or
. Telephone call to Carol Henry at 360-249-1296.
(9) All other provisions of the permanent rule remain in effect.