WAC 220-52-073   Sea urchins.  It is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section.

     (1) Sea urchin districts:

     (a) Sea Urchin District 1 (Northern San Juan Islands) is defined as Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, and those waters of Area 22A north of a line projected east-west one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island and west of a line projected true north from Limestone Point on San Juan Island.

     (b) Sea Urchin District 2 (Southern San Juan Islands and Port Townsend) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 22A south of a line projected east-west one-quarter mile north of Lime Kiln Light on San Juan Island and east of a line projected true north from Limestone Point on San Juan Island and Areas 21A, 21B, 22B, 23A, 23B, 25A and 25B. The following areas within Sea Urchin District 2 are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times:

     (i) Those waters of 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.

     (ii) Those waters of 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.

     (c) Sea Urchin District 3 (Port Angeles) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 23C east of a line projected true north from Low Point, along 123°49'30" W. longitude, and Area 23D.

     (d) Sea Urchin District 4 (Sekiu) is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 23C west of a line projected true north from Low Point, along 123°49'30" W. longitude, and those waters of Area 29 east of a line projected true north from the mouth of Rasmussen Creek (3.1 miles southeast of Sail Rock).

     (e) Sea Urchin District 5 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 29 west of a line projected true north from the mouth of Rasmussen Creek (3.1 miles southeast of Sail Rock) and Areas 59A and 59B. Within Sea Urchin District 5, waters within one-quarter mile of Tatoosh Island are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times.

     (f) Sea Urchin District 6 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and 26A.

     (g) Sea Urchin District 7 is defined as those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 26B, 26C, 26D and 28A. The following areas within Sea Urchin District 7 are closed to the harvest of sea urchins at all times.

     (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 the shore on Bainbridge Island.

     (ii) The 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.

     (2) Sea urchin seasons and sizes:

     Sea urchin seasons and sizes will be set by emergency rule.

     (3) Shellfish diver gear:

     (a) It is unlawful to take sea urchins by any means other than shellfish diver gear.

     (b) Divers may only use hand-operated equipment that does not penetrate the shell.

     (c) Sea urchins may not be taken from water shallower than 10 feet below mean lower low water.

     (d) Purple sea urchins may not be taken.

     (e) 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 number must be black on white no less than 18 inches high and of proportionate width.

     (f) Divers may not take sea urchins from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.

     (g) No processing of sea urchins is permitted aboard the harvest vessel.

     (h) Divers may not take sea urchins for use other than as human food.

     (i) Only one diver from each harvesting vessel is allowed in the water at any one time during the sea urchin harvesting operation or when commercial quantities of sea urchins are aboard except that two divers may be in the water if the vessel has been designated on two sea urchin dive fishery licenses.

     (j) Variance from any of the provisions of this subsection is only allowed if authorized by a permit issued by the director.

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



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 04-17-096 (Order 04-210), § 220-52-073, filed 8/17/04, effective 9/17/04; 02-17-016 (Order 02-186), § 220-52-073, filed 8/9/02, effective 9/9/02; 01-07-021 (Order 01-40), § 220-52-073, filed 3/14/01, effective 4/14/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 00-03-042 (Order 00-07), § 220-52-073, filed 1/13/00, effective 2/13/00; 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-073, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; 91-22-064 (Order 91-132), § 220-52-073, filed 11/1/91, effective 12/2/91; 91-10-024 (Order 91-22), § 220-52-073, filed 4/23/91, effective 5/24/91; 87-23-006 (Order 87-187), § 220-52-073, filed 11/6/87; 87-15-022 (Order 87-69), § 220-52-073, filed 7/8/87; 86-20-028 (Order 86-123), § 220-52-073, filed 9/23/86; 85-01-010 (Order 84-214), § 220-52-073, filed 12/7/84; 83-04-025 (Order 83-04), § 220-52-073, filed 1/27/83; 80-13-064 (Order 80-123), § 220-52-073, filed 9/17/80; 79-02-053 (Order 79-6), § 220-52-073, filed 1/30/79; Order 77-145, § 220-52-073, filed 12/13/77; Order 76-152, § 220-52-073, filed 12/17/76; Order 1105, § 220-52-073, filed 12/28/73; Order 990, § 220-52-073, filed 5/11/72.]