WSR 25-18-053
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-204—Filed August 27, 2025, 3:32 p.m., effective August 27, 2025, 7:00 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: August 27, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Purpose: This emergency rule sets participants for gillnet fisheries in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 10 on August 27. This rule closes Area 10 purse seine and gillnet fisheries beginning August 28.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-354-12000A and 220-354-16000G; and amending WAC 220-354-120 and 220-354-160.
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 necessary to name commercial gillnet fishery participants targeting pink salmon in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 10 on August 27, as required by WAC 220-354-050 for limited participation salmon net fisheries. This rule also maintains the previously announced open period and release requirements for this fishery. Allowable Chinook impacts for commercial purse seine and gillnet fisheries in Area 10 are expected to be reached by the end of the fisheries opening August 27; this rule closes commercial purse seine and gillnet fisheries in Area 10 beginning at 7:00 a.m., August 28. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 2.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 27, 2025.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-12000CPuget Sound salmon—Purse seine—Open periods.
Effective 7:00 am August 28 through 7 pm September 4, 2025, the following provisions regarding commercial purse seine open periods in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 10 shall be as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-160 not contained in this section remain in effect unless otherwise altered by emergency rule:
| Area | Open/Closed | Date(s) | |
| 10 | Closed | 8/28 - 9/4 | |
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-354-16000HPuget Sound salmon—Gillnet—Open periods.
Effective 7:00 pm August 27, through 7:00 pm September 4, 2025, provisions of WAC 220-354-160 regarding commercial gillnet open periods in Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 10 shall be modified as detailed in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-354-160 not contained in this section remain in effect unless otherwise altered by emergency rule:
| Area | Open/Closed | Date/Time | |
| 10 | Open | 7 PM 8/27 - 6:59 AM 8/28 | |
| 10 | Closed | 7 AM 8/28 - 7 PM 9/4 | |
(a) During open periods listed in this section, the following registered participants have been notified by WDFW and are permitted to participate in the Puget Sound Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area 10 pink salmon gillnet fishery:
(i) FV Blue Chip
(ii) FV WN8742NR
(iii) FV Yaya
(iv) FV Katya Dawn
(v) FV AK2826B
(b) Chinook, chum, coho, and sockeye release is required.
(c) The use of a recovery box is required in compliance with WAC 220-354-140 (5)(a) through (f).
(d) For gillnets it is unlawful to use a net soak time of more than 90 minutes.
(e) It is unlawful to possess salmon caught in other Marine Areas while participating in this fishery.
(f) Agreement to participate in this fishery requires that a department observer be allowed on board the vessel while fishing if requested by department staff.
REPEALER
The following sections of Washington Administrative Code are repealed, effective 7:00 p.m. August 27, 2025:
WAC 220-354-12000A | Puget Sound salmon—Purse seine—Open periods (25-201) |
WAC 220-354-16000G | Puget Sound salmon—Gillnet—Open periods. (25-201) |