WSR 24-22-020
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 24-245—Filed October 25, 2024, 3:21 p.m., effective October 28, 2024]
Effective Date of Rule: October 28, 2024.
Purpose: This emergency rule closes commercial purse seine seasons in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 10, 11, 12, and 12B on October 28, 2024.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-354-120.
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 close scheduled openings for commercial purse seine fisheries in Puget Sound Management and Catch Reporting Areas 10, 11, 12, and 12B on October 28. To date, Puget Sound commercial chum catch and landings have been higher than expected. Additional time between openings is necessary to assess catch and other in-season information to determine whether additional fishery openings can be offered in these 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 25, 2024.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-12000PPuget Sound salmon—Purse seine—Open periods.
Effective for the day of October 28, 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 | 10/28 | Closed | NA | |