WSR 25-17-060
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-180—Filed August 15, 2025, 3:56 p.m., effective August 18, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: August 18, 2025.
Purpose: This emergency rule extends the registration deadline for Puget Sound commercial salmon net fisheries.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-354-050.
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 extend the registration and limited participation salmon net fisheries weekly in-season commercial salmon application deadline to Monday, 11:59 p.m., each week. The in-season commercial salmon application requirements for Puget Sound commercial salmon fisheries in WAC 220-354-050 are new this year. Based on feedback from license holders, it created additional confusion during the annual process. Extension of the weekly in-season commercial salmon application deadline will ensure that license holders have ample time to understand and comply with the new requirements so that they can participate in early season 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 15, 2025.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-05000CCommercial fisheries—Salmon—Limited participation salmon net fisheries.
Effective immediately, until further notice, the following provisions of WAC 220-354-050 regarding requirements for weekly in-season application deadline for participation in a salmon net fishery, shall be modified as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-050 not addressed in this section, or unless otherwise amended, remain in effect:
In-season commercial salmon application deadlines: In-season commercial salmon applications must be submitted online during the weekly registration window between each Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. and the following Monday at 11:59 p.m.