[Order 24-137—Filed July 24, 2024, 11:14 a.m., effective July 25, 2024]

Effective Date of Rule: July 25, 2024.

Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to open additional salmon seasons in Catch Record Card Areas 10 and 11, and to reduce the Chinook portion of the salmon daily limit in Area 11 during August and September.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-313-060.

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 to open salmon seasons in Catch Record Card Areas 10 and 11 and to reduce the Chinook portion of the salmon daily limit in Area 11 for August and September.

Catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 summer Chinook fishery indicate that through July 21, 27 percent (848/3,166) of the harvest quota, and 28 percent of sublegal encounters (1,806/6,477) have been reached.

Catch estimates for the Marine Area 11 summer Chinook fishery indicate that through July 21, nine percent of the harvest quota (315 of 3,379), and two percent of sublegal encounters (119 of 5,907) have been reached.

Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow additional openings of the 2024 summer Chinook seasons in Area 10 and 11.

Reducing the Chinook portion of the daily limit in August and September is needed to avoid reaching quota early in the season, possibly resulting in early closure.

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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: July 24, 2024.

WAC 220-313-06000YPuget Sound salmon—Saltwater seasons and daily limits.

Effective immediately, through September 2, 2024, salmon rules for Catch Record Card Area 10 and Catch Record Card Area 11, shall be modified as described herein. All other provisions of WAC 220-313-060 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:

(1) Catch Record Card Area 10, except waters of Shilshole Bay southeast of a line from Meadow Point to West Point; waters of Elliot Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point; waters of Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard south of the Manette Bridge in Bremerton, south of a line true west from Battle Point, and west of a line drawn true south from Point White; and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier):

Salmon: Effective July 25 through 27, 2024: Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum and wild Chinook.

(2) Catch Record Card Area 11, except year-round piers (Des Moines Pier, Les Davis Pier, and Point Defiance Boathouse Dock):

(a) Effective July 25 through July 27, 2024:

(i) Salmon: Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum and wild Chinook.

(ii) Commencement Bay (east of a line from Cliff House Restaurant to Sperry Ocean Dock): Closed to fishing for or retention of salmon.

(b) Effective July 28 through July 31, 2024: Salmon: Closed.

(c) Effective August 1 through September 30: Salmon: Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum and wild Chinook.