[Order 22-110—Filed June 22, 2022, 4:53 p.m., effective June 24, 2022]

Effective Date of Rule: June 24, 2022.

Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to reduce the Chinook portion of the daily limit in Catch Record Card Area 4.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-313-07500G; and amending WAC 220-313-075.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: This emergency rule is necessary because more than 12 percent of the Chinook guideline in Catch Record Card Area 4 was taken on the first two open days of the season (June 18 and 19, 2022). A reduction in the Chinook daily limit is necessary to preserve the season length while avoiding exceedance of the Chinook guideline and maximizing catch of the available coho quota.

This rule also maintains other recreational salmon seasons in Catch Record Card Areas 1 - 3, previously set by WSR 22-13-143.

These rules for in-state waters are consistent with federal salmon fishing regulations adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service in response to actions taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to set salmon fishery harvest specifications and management measures; this action is intended to achieve regulatory consistency in federal and state waters for the ocean recreational salmon fishery, which operates in both areas.

There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: June 22, 2022.

WAC 220-313-07500HPacific Ocean Salmon—Seasons—Closed Areas.

Effective June 24 through October 8, 2022 the provisions of WAC 220-313-075 regarding recreational salmon seasons for Marine Areas 1 through 4 shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-313-075 not addressed herein remain in effect unless otherwise amended:

(1) Catch Record Card Area 1: Open June 25 through September 30, 2022:

(a) Daily limit of 2 salmon; no more than one may be a Chinook.

(b) Release wild coho.

(d) Coho minimum length 16 inches.

(2) Catch Record Card Area 2: Open July 2 through September 30, 2022:

(a) Daily limit of 2 salmon; no more than one may be a Chinook.

(b) Release wild coho.

(d) Coho minimum length 16 inches.

(e) July 2 through August 7, 2022 the Grays Harbor Control Zone is open. See WAC 220-306-040.

(3) Catch Record Card Area 3:

(a) Open immediately, through September 30, 2022:

(i) Daily limit of 2 salmon.

(ii) Release wild coho.

(iii) Chinook minimum length 24 inches.

(iv) Coho minimum length 16 inches.

(v) Release chum beginning August 1.

(b) Open October 5 through October 8, 2022 only in the area north of 47°50'00N. lat. and south of 48°00'00"N. lat.:

(i) Daily limit 2 Chinook salmon only.

(ii) Release all salmon except Chinook.

(iii) Chinook minimum length 24 inches.

(4) Catch Record Card Area 4:

(a) Open June 24, through September 30, 2022:

(i) Daily limit of 2 salmon; no more than one may be a Chinook.

(ii) Release wild coho.

(iii) Chinook minimum length 24 inches.

(iv) Coho minimum length 16 inches.

(v) No chinook retention in waters east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line beginning August 1.

(vi) Release chum salmon beginning August 1.

(b) Waters east of a true north-south line through Sail Rock are closed through July 31.

Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective June 24, 2022:

Pacific Ocean salmon—Seasons—Closed areas.