[Order 25-197—Filed August 22, 2025, 4:09 p.m., effective August 25, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: August 25, 2025.

Purpose: This emergency rule sets participants and release requirements for commercial gillnet fisheries in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 7B.

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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 22, 2025.

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

Effective from 5:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. on August 25 and August 26, 2025, selected participants and release requirements for 5-inch mesh gillnet 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, unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:

(a) For week 35 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 gillnet fishery:

(i) FV Haley Marie

(ii) FV WN4617NR

(iii) FV Miss Makayla

(iv) FV WN4866SF

(v) FV WN238BB

(vi) FV WN0477SY

(vii) FV WN8101SF

(viii) FV WN1817MB

(ix) FV Sandy Lee

(x) FV WN9158GB

(xi) FV Elmer J

(xii) FV Small Fry

(xiii) FV WN9872MC

(xiv) FV WN6251ST

(xv) FV WN4716LB

(xvi) FV WN6641SR

(xvii) FV WN1729SY

(xviii) FV Kelsie Dawn

(xix) FV Toni M

(xx) FV WN6073LE

(xxi) FV Bayonet

(xxii) FV Chaos

(xxiii) FV James Dean

(xxiv) FV WN1985LE

(xxv) FV WN7075KW

(xxvi) FV WN4802LB

(xxvii) FV WN5762SW

(xxviii) FV WN2406BF

(xxix) FV Glacier Girl

(xxx) FV WN2637JF

(xxxi) FV Blue Chip

(xxxii) FV WN2637JF

(xxxiii) FV WN8742NR

(xxxiv) FV Cousin

(xxxv) FV Sanjo

(xxxvi) FV WN887BN

(xxxvii) FV WN8758UP

(xxxviii) FV Yaya

(xxxix) FV Katya Dawn

(b) It is unlawful to possess or land Chinook, chum, and sockeye salmon while participating in the 5-inch mesh fishery.

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