WAC 220-52-071   Sea cucumbers.  It is unlawful to take or possess sea cucumbers taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section.

     (1) Sea cucumber districts:

     (a) Sea Cucumber District 1 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B, and 23B outside of the following closed areas:

     (i) San Juan Channel and Upright Channel within the following lines: South of a line projected from Flat Point on Lopez Island true west to Shaw Island; west of a line from Neck Point on Shaw Island to Steep Point on Orcas Island; south of a line from Steep Point on Orcas Island to Limestone Point on San Juan Island north of a line from Flat Point on Lopez Island to the northernmost point of Turn Island and thence projected true west to San Juan Island.

     (ii) Haro Strait north of a line projected due west from the southernmost point of Cattle Point on San Juan Island to the international border and south of a line projected due west from a point one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island to the international border.

     (b) Sea Cucumber District 2 is defined as the waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23A, 23C, 23D, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25E, and 29.

     (c) Sea Cucumber District 3 is defined as the waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 26A, 26B, and 26C. The following areas within Sea Cucumber District 3 are closed to the harvest of sea cucumbers:

     (i) Those waters of Eagle Harbor west of a line projected from Wing Point to Eagle Harbor Creosote Light Number 1, then projected due west to shore on Bainbridge Island.

     (ii) Those waters of Sinclair Inlet west of a line projected southerly from the easternmost point of Point Turner to landfall directly below the Veteran's Home in Annapolis.

     (d) Sea Cucumber District 4 is defined as the waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 27A, 27B, and 27C.

     (e) Sea Cucumber District 5 is defined as the waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 26D, 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D.

     (2) Sea cucumber areas and seasons:

     Sea cucumber areas and seasons will be set by emergency rule.

     On days open to sea cucumber harvest, it is unlawful to take sea cucumbers from one-half hour before official sunset to 5:59 a.m. the next morning. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.550, Violation of commercial fishing area or time -- Penalty.

     (3) Shellfish diver gear:

     (a) Divers operating from a vessel must have a number assigned by the department placed on both sides and the top of the vessel in such a manner that the number is clearly visible when the vessel is viewed from either side or from the air, and the letters must be black on white no less than eighteen inches in height and of proportional width. Failure to display these numbers is punishable under RCW 77.15.540, Unlawful use of a commercial fishery license.

     (b) Only one diver from each harvesting vessel is allowed in the water at any one time during the sea cucumber harvest operation or when commercial quantities of sea cucumbers are aboard except that two divers may be in the water if the vessel has been designated on two sea cucumber dive fishery licenses. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.520, Commercial fishing -- Unlawful gear or methods -- Penalty.

     (c) Divers may not fish for or possess geoduck clams during commercial sea cucumber harvesting operations, or possess geoduck clams on a vessel that has sea cucumbers on board. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.550, Violation of commercial fishing area or time -- Penalty.

     (d) Licensing: A sea cucumber dive fishery license is the license required to operate the gear provided for in this section.

     (4) Trawl gear:

     It is unlawful to fish for or possess sea cucumbers taken with trawl gear. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.520, Commercial fishing -- Unlawful gear or methods -- Penalty.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-16-098 (Order 03-177), § 220-52-071, filed 8/6/03, effective 9/6/03; 02-17-016 (Order 02-186), § 220-52-071, filed 8/9/02, effective 9/9/02; 01-07-021 (Order 01-40), § 220-52-071, filed 3/14/01, effective 4/14/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 00-03-042 (Order 00-07), § 220-52-071, filed 1/13/00, effective 2/13/00; 99-17-068 (Order 99-126), § 220-52-071, filed 8/13/99, effective 9/13/99; 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-071, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; 93-15-051, § 220-52-071, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; 91-18-030 (Order 91-73), § 220-52-071, filed 8/28/91, effective 9/28/91; 91-10-024 (Order 91-22), § 220-52-071, filed 4/23/91, effective 5/24/91; 87-23-006 (Order 87-187), § 220-52-071, filed 11/6/87; 87-15-022 (Order 87-69), § 220-52-071, filed 7/8/87; 87-02-013 (Order 86-199), § 220-52-071, filed 12/30/86; 81-11-006 (Order 81-31), § 220-52-071, filed 5/11/81; 79-02-053 (Order 79-6), § 220-52-071, filed 1/30/79; Order 77-145, § 220-52-071, filed 12/13/77; Order 77-65, § 220-52-071, filed 8/5/77; Order 1105, § 220-52-071, filed 12/28/73; Order 990, § 220-52-071, filed 5/11/72.]