WSR 24-21-110
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 24-240—Filed October 18, 2024, 5:16 p.m., effective October 21, 2024]
Effective Date of Rule: October 21, 2024.
Purpose: This emergency rule adjusts commercial purse seine openings in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 10, 11, 12, and 12B.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-354-120 and 220-354-160.
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 needed to adjust scheduled openings for commercial purse seine and gillnet fisheries in Puget Sound Management and Catch Reporting Areas 10, 11, 12, and 12B. To date, Puget Sound commercial chum catch and landings have been higher than expected. Additional time between openings is necessary to accommodate landing and processing capacity for the fleet. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: October 18, 2024.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-12000LPuget Sound salmonPurse seineOpen periods.
Effective October 21 through October 22, 2024, the following provisions of WAC 220-354-120 regarding commercial purse seine open periods in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting areas 10, 11, 12 and 12B shall be as follows. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-120 not contained herein remain in effect unless otherwise altered by emergency rule:
Area(s)
Date(s)
Open/Closed
Daily open period
10, 11, 12, and 12B
10/21
Closed
NA
10, 11, 12 and 12B
10/22
Open
7AM - 6PM
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-16000UPuget Sound salmonGillnetOpen periods.
Effective October 22 through October 24, 2024, the following provisions of WAC 220-354-160 regarding commercial gillnet open periods for Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting areas 10, 11, 12, and 12B shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-160 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
Area(s)
Date(s)
Open/Closed
Daily open period
Minimum mesh size
10, 11, 12, and 12B
10/22
Closed
NA
NA
10, 11
10/23
Open
5PM - 9AM
6 1/4"
12, 12B
10/23
Open
7AM - 8PM
6 1/4"