WSR 25-17-055
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-187—Filed August 14, 2025, 4:29 p.m., effective August 15, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: August 15, 2025.
Purpose: This emergency rule opens commercial purse seine, gillnet, and reef net seasons in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 7 and 7A.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-354-120, 220-354-160, and 220-354-180.
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 provide for Pacific Salmon Commission authorized commercial fisheries in Puget Sound Management and Catch Reporting Areas 7 and 7A. These fisheries have been authorized by The Fraser River Panel as part of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The latest in-season runsize estimates for sockeye salmon based on test fishing indicate that there are harvestable sockeye available for United States fisheries. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 3, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 14, 2025.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-12000XPuget Sound salmon—Purse seine—Open periods.
Effective 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., August 15, 2025, the following provisions of WAC 220-354-120 regarding commercial Purse Seine open periods in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 7 and 7A shall described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-120 not contained in this section remain in effect unless otherwise altered by emergency rule:
| Areas | Open/Closed | Time | Date(s) | |
| 7, 7A | Open | 5 AM - 9 PM | 08/15/2025 | |
(a) For the purse seine fishery opening in this section the following participants that have been selected and notified by the Department, or their designated alternate operator, are permitted to participate in the Area 7 and 7A purse seine fishery:
(i) FV AK9797AN
(ii) FV Lady Sharon
(iii) FV Pacific Breeze
(iv) FV Laurieanne
(v) FV Sound Star
(vi) FV Zealot
(vii) FV Western Lady
(viii) FV Yankee Boy
(ix) FV Tradition
(x) FV AK4273AX
(xi) FV New Oregon
(xii) FV Wisconsin
(xiii) FV Pamela Joyce
(xiv) FV Peyton Elizbeth
(xv) FV Relentless
(b) It is unlawful to land more than 900 sockeye per license during open periods listed in this section. Should a fisher land over this limit, they should immediately notify enforcement at 360-902-2447. Both the fisher and the buyer are liable to adhere to trip limits set for a fishery per WAC 220-354-030 and WAC 220-354-050.
(c) Per WAC 220-354-100 brailing and use of recovery boxes is required. Chinook and chum release is required.
(d) It is unlawful to possess salmon caught in other Marine Areas while participating in this fishery.
(e) Agreement to participate in this fishery requires that a department observer be allowed on board the vessel while fishing if requested by department staff.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-16000APuget Sound salmon—Gillnet—Open periods.
Effective from 8:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. August 15, 2025, the following provisions of WAC 220-354-160 regarding commercial gillnet open periods for Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 7 and 7A shall be described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-160 not addressed in this section, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
| Area | Open/Closed | Time | Date(s) | |
| 7, 7A | Open | 8 AM - 11:59 PM | 08/15/2025 | |
(a) For the gillnet fishery opening listed in this section the following participants that have been selected and notified by the Department, or their designated alternate operator, are permitted to participate in the Area 7 and 7A gillnet fishery:
(i) FV WN7075KW
(ii) FV WN6641SR
(iii) FV 3931P
(iv) FV WN7527NZ
(v) FV WN1817NB
(vi) FV James Dean
(vii) FV Chaos
(viii) FV WN0477SY
(ix) FV WN607LE
(x) FV WN238BBB
(xi) FV WN1895LE
(xii) FV Elmer J
(xiii) FV WN2720JC
(xiv) FV WN4716LB
(xv) FV Sandy lee
(xvi) FV Toni m
(xvii) FV WN6251ST
(xviii) FV Determination
(xix) FV Sanjo
(xx) FV WN2845SF
(xxi) FV WN0293SU
(xxii) FV Miss Makayla
(xxiii) FV BAYONET
(xxiv) FV WN9158GB
(xxv) FV WN4866SF
(xxvi) FV WN4802LB
(xxvii) FV Glacier Girl
(xxviii) FV WN9998RR
(xxix) FV WN2637JF
(xxx) FV WN8742NR
(xxxi) FV St James
(xxxii) FV WN7041P
(xxxiii) FV WN6701KV
(xxxiv) FV Dani Girl
(xxxv) FV Cousin
(xxxvi) FV Small Fry
(b) It is unlawful to land more than 150 sockeye per license during open periods listed in this section. Should a fisher land over this limit, they should immediately notify enforcement at 360-902-2447. Both the fisher and the buyer are liable to adhere to trip limits set for a fishery per WAC 220-354-030 and WAC 220-354-050.
(c) Per WAC 220-354-140 (5)(a) through (f) the use of a recovery box is required. Chinook and chum release is required.
(d) It is unlawful to possess salmon caught in other Marine Areas while participating in this fishery.
(e) Agreement to participate in this fishery requires that a department observer be allowed on board the vessel while fishing if requested by department staff.
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-18000JReef net open periods.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-354-180, effective August 15, 2025, it is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess salmon taken with reef net gear for commercial purposes in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas except as provided in this section, provided that unless otherwise amended, all permanent rules remain in effect:
Open to reef net gear according to the times, dates and conditions contained in this section:
| Area(s) | Date(s) | Open/Closed | Daily open period | |
| 7 | 08/15 | Open | 5 AM - 9 PM | |
(a) Sockeye retention is permitted on August 15. It is unlawful to land more than 240 sockeye per license during the August 15 fishery.
(b) "Quick Reporting Fisheries": All fisheries opened under this section, and any fishery opening under authority of the Fraser Panel for sockeye in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas (WAC 220-301-030), are designated as "Quick Reporting Required" per WAC 220-352-325 Puget Sound salmon and sturgeon—Additional reporting requirements and WAC 220-354-090 Puget Sound salmon—Quick reporting.