Puget Sound is home to two fleets of commercial vessels, Tribal and State. The State commercial crab fleet possesses about 248 licenses. The fishery is currently limited to this number of licenses, however current license holders may transfer an existing license to a new party. Information on Tribal fishing in Puget Sound is available through the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
ANNOUNCEMENT: WDFW CLOSED REGION 1 at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 9th, 2013.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: WDFW CLOSED REGION 3-1, 3-2 and 3-3 at 7:00 PM, Sunday, March 31st, 2013.
SUMMARY:The Puget Sound State Commercial Crab Fishery opened at 8:00 AM, Monday, October 1st, 2012 in Region 1, Region 2 East, Region 2 West, Region 3-1, Region 3-2 and Region 3-3. On October 31st, 2012 Region 2 West closed. On December 16th, 2012 The Everett Flats portion of Region 2 East was closed in order to protect molting crab in this small subarea. Region 2 West re-opened on February 1st ,2013 and closed for the season on February 12th, 2013 after reaching the regional allocation. This was followed shortly by the closure of Region 2 East on February 15th 2013. Currently Region 1, Region 3-1, Region 3-2 and Region 3-3 all remain open with 100 pot per license limit.
Puget Sound Commercial Crab Emergency Regulation
No. 13-64
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-52-04600M Puget Sound crab fishery--Seasons and Areas.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-046:
(1)Effective immediately, until 7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, it is permissible to fish for Dungeness crab for commercial purposes in the following areas:
(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.
(b) 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 Cape Sante Marina to the northern end of the eastern-most oil dock.
(c) 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.
(2)The following areas are closed to commercial crab fishing:
(a) Effective at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, until further notice, Crab Management Region 1. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B.
(b) Effective immediately, until further notice, Crab Management Region 2 West. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 25B, 25D and 26A West.
(c) Effective immediately, until further notice, Crab Management Region 2 East. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and 26A East.
(d) Effective immediately, until further notice, Crab Management Region 3, subarea 3. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23C and 29.
(e) Effective immediately, until further notice, Crab Management Region 3, subarea 2. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23D, 25A and 25E.
(f) Effective immediately, until further notice, Crab Management Region 3, subarea 1. This region includes Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 23A and 23B.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 220-52-04600L Puget Sound crab fishery--Seasons and Areas. (13-57)
