WSR 22-01-146
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 21-274—Filed December 15, 2021, 11:00 a.m., effective January 1, 2022]
Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2022.
Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to reduce Catch Record Card Area 10 salmon season openings three days per week and reduce the salmon daily limit to one fish.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-313-06000R.
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: Marine Area 10 was originally scheduled to open to recreational salmon fishing seven days per week in January. The citizen comprised Puget Sound recreational angling advisory committee have advised Washington department of fish and wildlife to take actions to provide the maximum number of fishing days and avoid early closure of the season which is scheduled to run through March 31. In the 2021-22 fishing year, most Puget Sound salmon seasons that have had encounter-based limits have been closed prior to the planned end date due to reaching their encounter limits. Taking this information into account and the increased angling effort seen in nearly all Puget Sound salmon fisheries over the last year, the Marine Area 10 winter salmon seasons beginning January 1, 2022, will be limited to opening three days per week with a one fish daily limit. This rule will minimize the likelihood of meeting or exceeding fishery encounter limits prior to the planned closing date of March 31. 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 15, 2021.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-313-06000RPuget Sound salmon—Saltwater seasons and daily limits.
Effective January 1 through March 31, 2022, the following provisions of WAC 220-313-060 regarding salmon seasons in Catch Record Card Area 10 shall be as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-313-060 not addressed herein, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
Catch Record Card Area 10: Salmon:
(a) Open Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays each week. Closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays each week.
(b) Daily limit 1.
(c) Chinook, minimum size 22 inches. Other salmon species, no minimum size.
(d) Release wild Chinook.