[Order 25-176—Filed August 9, 2025, 10:14 a.m., effective August 11, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: August 11, 2025.

Purpose: This emergency rule sets selected participants and release requirements for Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 7B five-inch gillnet fisheries on August 11 and 12.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 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 rule is needed to establish a list of vessels that have registered for this fishery and are permitted to participate. This rule also includes a Chinook nonretention requirement that was omitted from the permanent regulations. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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, 2025.

WAC 220-354-16000YPuget Sound salmon—Gillnet—Open periods.

Effective from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. August 11 and 12, 2025, selected participants and release requirements for 5-inch mesh gill net fisheries listed in WAC 220-354-160 for Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 7B are described in this section. Gillnet fisheries with 7-inch mesh openings and all other provisions of WAC 220-354-160 not addressed in this section, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:

(a) For week 33 the following participants that have been selected and notified by the Department, or their designated alternate operator, are permitted to participate in the Area 7B 5-inch gill net fishery:

(i) WN4617NR

(ii) Miss Makayla

(iii) WN4866SF

(iv) WN238BB

(v) WN0477SY

(vi) WN8101SF

(vii) WN1817NB

(viii) Sandy Lee

(ix) WN9158GB

(x) Elmer J

(xi) WN2229RP

(xii) WN4716LB

(xiii) WN6641SR

(xiv) WN1729SY

(xv) Toni M

(xvi) WN607LE

(xvii) Bayonet

(xviii) Chaos

(xix) James Dean

(xx) WN1895LE

(xxi) WN7075KW

(xxii) WN4802LB

(xxiii) WN5762SW

(xxiv) WN240SBF

(xxv) Glacier Girl

(xxvi) WN9998RR

(xxvii) WN6701KV

(xxviii) WN2637JF

(xxix) Cousin

(xxx) Sanjo

(b) It is unlawful to possess or land Chinook Salmon while participating in the 5-inch mesh fishery.

(d) Agreement to participate in this fishery will require that a department observer be allowed on board the vessel while fishing if requested by department staff.