[Order 24-150—Filed August 8, 2024, 3:31 p.m., effective August 11, 2024]

Effective Date of Rule: August 11, 2024.

Purpose: This emergency rule is necessary to open hatchery Chinook retention opportunities in Catch Record Card Areas 7 and 10.

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 one day of hatchery Chinook retention in Catch Record Card Area 7 and two days of hatchery Chinook retention in Area 10.

Catch estimates for the Marine Area 7 summer Chinook fishery indicate that through August 4, 92 percent of the harvest quota (1,997 of 2,181), 40 percent of unmarked encounters (1,523 of 3,845), and 53 percent of sublegal encounters (1,142 of 2,141) have been reached.

Catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 summer Chinook fishery indicate that through August 4, 76 percent (2,392 of 3,166) of the harvest quota, and 68 percent of sublegal encounters (4,427 of 6,477) have been reached.

Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow for this additional opening of the 2024 summer Chinook season in Areas 7 and 10. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 8, 2024.

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

Effective August 11 through August 13, 2024, salmon rules for Catch Record Card Area 7 and Area 10 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 7, except waters listed as closed to salmon fishing in WAC 220-313-020 during the effective time period (Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay, and Southern Rosario Strait and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca); and waters of Lummi Bay east of a line from Gooseberry Point to Sandy Point:

Salmon: Effective August 13, 2024 (one day): Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum, sockeye, wild Chinook, and wild coho.

(2) 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 up to a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91; 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 August 11 through August 12, 2024: Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum, sockeye, and wild Chinook.