Note: The following regulations are the opening emergency regulations for the 2007-2008 season. In-season emergency regulations will be posted on this site as they occur. You can also call the Commercial Crab Hotline at the number posted to the left of this page for the latest emergency regulations.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-046, effective 7:00 p.m. on February 19, 2008, until further notice, it will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Marine Fish Shellfish Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, and 26A-East (Crab Management Region 2 East). Bait may not be aboard the designated crab vessel after 6:00 p.m. February 15, 2008.

Effective immediately until further notice, the following Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas are restricted in the number of pots fished, operated, or used by a person or vessel and it is unlawful for any person to use, maintain, operate, or control pots in excess of the following limits:

30 pots in Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 25E.

30 pots in all waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 25A south of a line projected true west from Travis Spit on Miller Peninsula.

Effective 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2007 until further notice:
(1) It will be unlawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in those waters of Marine Fish Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area east of a line from the spiral staircase at Howarth Park due north to the south end of Gedney Island and that portion of 24B east of a line from the north end of Gedney Island to Camano Head and south of a line drawn from Camano Head to Hermosa Point (north end of Tulalip Bay).

(2) Effective 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2007 until 5:00 p.m. January 5, 2008, it will be lawful for crab fishers to remove their gear from those waters of Marine Fish Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 26A within the area east of a line from the spiral staircase at Howarth Park due north to the south end of Gedney Island and that portion of 24B east of a line from the north end of Gedney Island to Camano Head and south of a line drawn from Camano Head to Hermosa Point (north end of Tulalip Bay). No crab may be retained, landed from, or possessed from the above area after 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2007.

WAC 220-52-04000K Commercial crab fishery-Lawful and unlawful gear, methods, and other unlawful acts.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-040:

(1) Dungeness crab pots may be deployed between 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2007 and 7:59 a.m. October 3, 2007 in Puget Sound waters from a vessel not designated on a person's Puget Sound crab license provided that the primary or alternate operator designated on the license is on board the non-designated vessel ("barge" vessel), and provided prior notice has been given as indicated below.

1. Name and license number of license owner.
2. Name of designated primary operator if different from license owner.
3. Name of alternate operator if used to deploy pots from a non-designated vessel.
4. Buoy brand number and number of pots to be deployed from a non-designated vessel.
5. Name and identification numbers (WN and/or Coast Guard) of the non-designated vessel.

The remaining buoy tags per license per region must be onboard the designated vessel and available for inspection in the pot-limited areas.

WAC 220-52-04600K and WAC 220-52-04600L Crab Fishery--Seasons and Areas.

Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-046, effective 8:00 a.m. October 1, 2007 until further notice:

(1) It will be lawful to fish for Dungeness Crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:

1. Port Gardner: That portion of Catch Area 26A east of a line projected from the outermost tip of the ferry dock at Mukilteo projected to the green #3 buoy at the mouth of the Snohomish River and west of a line projected from that #3 buoy southward to the oil boom pier on the shoreline.
2. Possession Point to Glendale: That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 26A east of a line that extends true north from the green #1 buoy at Possession Point to Possession Point, and west of a line from the green #1 buoy at Possession Point extending northward along the 200-foot depth contour to the Glendale dock.
3. Langley: That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 24C inshore of the 400-foot depth contour within an area described by two lines projected northeasterly from Sandy Point and the entrance to the marina at Langley.
4. Useless Bay: That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 26A in Useless Bay north and east of a line from the south end of the Double Bluff State Park seawall (47º 58.782' N, 122º 30.84' W) projected 110º true to the boulder on shore (47º 57.690' N, 122º 26.742' W).
5. Birch Bay: That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 20A in Birch Bay between the line from 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 western boundary of Birch Bay State Park to Birch Point.
6. Fidalgo Bay: That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 22B in Fidalgo Bay south of a line from the red #4 buoy at the Cap Sante Marina entrance to the northern end of the eastern most oil dock and thence to shore.
7. Deer Harbor: That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 22A in Deer Harbor north of a line from Steep Point to Pole Pass.

(2) The following area are closed to commercial crab fishing:

1. That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 25A west of the 123º 7.0' longitude line projected from the new Dungeness light due south to the shore of Dungeness Bay.
2. That portion of Marine Fish/Shellfish Catch Area 23D west of a line from the eastern tip of Ediz Hook to the ITT Rayonier Dock.

WAC 220-69-24000L Duties of commercial purchasers and receivers Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-69-240, effective October 1, 2007, until further notice:

It is unlawful for any wholesale dealer acting in the capacity of an original receiver of Dungeness crab taken by nontreaty fishers, from Puget Sound, to fail to report to the department the previous day's purchases by 10:00 a.m. the following business day. Reports must be made to the Point Whitney Shellfish Laboratory by, by fax at 360-586-8408 or by phone at 1-866-859-8439, option 5, and must specify the dealer name, dealer phone number; date of delivery of crab to the original receiver, and the total number of pounds of crab caught by nontreaty fishers, by Crab Management Region or by Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area. Click here for a PDF of the 2007-08 Commercial Crab Quick Reporting Form.

Coastal Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery