Emergency rule changes are critical rule changes that require immediate action and are good for 120 days or less. These are the emergency rule changes filed by WDFW in 2020.
December
- Commercial whale watching of southern resident killer whales
- Puget Sound commercial crab rule
- Lower Columbia River recreational salmon rule
- Columbia River steelhead rule
- Puget Sound commercial crab rule
- Coastal commercial crab rule correction
- Coastal commercial crab rule
- Puget Sound commercial crab rule
- Recreational crab closure in Marine Areas 1 and 2
- Conservation rules implemented on coastal tribuatries
- Puget Sound commercial crab rule
November
- Closes recreational crabbing in Areas 2 and 2-2
- Puget Sound commercial sea urchin fishery
- Adult salmon daily limits increased for many SW Washington Columbia River tributaries
- Puget sound commercial squid fishery
- Hoodsport hatchery zone closes to recreational fishing
- Puget Sound commercial salmon rule
- Puget Sound commercial crab rule
- Adult salmon daily limit increases for Drano Lake
- Cleman Mountain hunt
October
- Puget Sound purse seine and gillnet fisheries
- Lower Columbia River fishery updates
- Salmon fishing to close at Chico Creek and Gorst Creek tidelands
- Puget Sound purse seine and gillnet closures in Areas 10 and 11
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Closes razor clam season
- Commercial sea urchin fishery
- Puget Sound gill net and purse seine fisheries in Areas 10 and 11
- Coho season extended in the Skagit River
- Razor clam digs approved Oct. 16 through Oct. 21
- Puget Sound commercial crab fishery
- Closes the commercial sea cucumber season
- Palix River opens for salmon retention
- Closes commercial gillnet and purse seine fisheries in Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 10, 11, 12, and 12B
- Opens recreational crab season in Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Hatchery coho limit to increase in Skagit River
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Skagit River from Highway 9 to Baker River to temporarily close to all fishing
- Grande Ronde River steelhead fishery
- Willapa Bay salmon fall fishery
- Lower Columbia River fishery update
- Opens coho salmon fishing in Willapa Bay tributaries
- Commercial treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Closes recreational crab in the area of Marine area 12 south of Ayock Point
- Adult chinook daily limits increase on the Green, Toutle, North Fork Toutle and Washougal rivers
- Repeals Fire protection measures on WDFW lands
September
- Opens Puget Sound commercial crab season
- Commercial sea urchin fishery
- Yakima River fall salmon fishery to open
- Salmon seasons updated on upper Columbia River
- Opens Puget Sound recreational crab fishery
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Opens coho retention on the Icicle River and upper Columbia River
- Willapa Bay salmon fall fishery
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Opens 3 sturgeon retention days on the Columbia River (Wauna to Bonneville)
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Recreational halibut dates added to remainder of season
- Lower Columbia River salmon fishery update
- Skagit River from Highway 9 Bridge to Baker River to temporarily close to all fishing
- Columbia River Treaty fishing regulations
- Opening of Puget Sound non-spot shrimp commercial fishery
- Delayed openings in Willapa Bay commercial salmon fishery
- Extension of Bighorn Sheep season through Oct 31
- Columbia River recreational sturgeon and salmon fishery
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Commercial sea cucumber fishery
- Closes the coastal commercial crab season
- Columbia River recreational salmon fishery
- Daily limits removed from Hatch Lake and McDowell Lake
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Westport will open for another all depth halibut day on September 11, 2020
- Westport to open for salmon fishing 7 days per week, Chinook limit increasing
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Commercial sea cucumber fishery
- Opportunity to harvest spot shrimp in Marine Area 7-East and 7-West
August
- Voight Creek closure effective September 1, 2020
- Fall Chinook harvest to be allowed in additional section of the Snake River
- Grande Ronde, Snake, Touchet, Tucannon and Walla Walla rivers Steelhead rules
- Closes recreational oyster harvesting at Belfair State Park, Potlatch State Park, Potlatch DNR, and Twanoh State Park beaches, effective Sept. 1
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Additional all-depth halibut days added in Marine Areas 1 and 2
- Anglers can retain hatchery Chinook in Whatcom Creek
- Puget Sound Gillnet and Purse seine fisheries
- Fall Chinook harvest to be allowed in the Snake River
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Marine Area 7 Chinook opener delayed
- Puget Sound gillnet fishery—Closes Area 7C
- Puget Sound recreational salmon fishery
- Columbia River treaty fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Puget Sound clam and mussel seasons close on some Hood canal beaches
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Puget Sound recreational crab fishery
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Puget Sound recreational salmon rules
- Puget Sound recreational shrimp fishery
- Closes recreational salmon fishing in Marine Area 4
July
- Baker Lake to close for sockeye
- Puget Sound Commercial sea cucumber fishery
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Upper Columbia River and Lake Wenatchee rules
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Marine Area 1 recreational salmon season to close
- Shrimp fishery closes in Marine Area 12
- Opens summer halibut seasons for Marine Areas 1 through 10
- Closes recreational Chinook harvest in Marine Area 5
- Columbia River treaty fishery
- Lower Columbia River Chinook fishery extended
- Baker Lake opens for sockeye retention
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Columbia River recreational fishery
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Spot shrimp fishery closes in Marine Area 6 outside Discovery Bay
- Lower Columbia River opens summer Chinook opportunity
- Upper Columbia, Entiat, and Chelan rivers open summer Chinook
- Hanford Reach opens summer Chinook opportunity
June
- Fire protection measures on WDFW lands
- Coastal commercial crab fishery
- Opens Puget Sound recreational crab fishery
- Ocean commercial troll summer seasons set
- Puget Sound recreational salmon season changes
- Snake River steelhead fisheries to close July 1
- Recreational coastal salmon seasons set
- Drano Lake and Wind River return to permanent rules
- Recreational shrimp to open in Marine Area 4
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp rule
- Marine Area 5 lingcod/halibut rule clarification
- Marine Area 4 recreational fisheries return to permanent rules
- Puget Sound recreational shrimp fishery
- Kalama River adult salmon daily limit reduced through July 31
- Klickitat River fisheries return to permanent rules
- Cowlitz anglers must release Chinook through July 31
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Hoh River closed to all fishing
- Reopens camping in Okanogan and Clark counties
- Skagit River to close for sockeye
- Lake Roosevelt white sturgeon retention season
- Icicle River to open for hatchery spring Chinook
- Recreational clam, mussel, and oyster fishery scheduled to open on most Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca beaches
- Reopens camping in Phase 2 counties
- Reopens camping in Klickitat county
- Repeals the suspension of non-resident recreational fishing license sales
May
- Wind River and Drano Lake to close for summer salmon and steelhead retention
- Columbia River sockeye salmon and steelhead seasons
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Tulalip terminal Area salmon fishery changes
- Reopens recreational fisheries in coastal waters
- Puget Sound recreational shrimp fishery
- Closes spring Chinook seasons on Snake River
- Upper Nisqually River closed to fishing until July 1
- Portion of the Cascade River will close 3 days per week
- Spring Chinook to open on North Fork Nooksack River
- Puget Sound recreational halibut seasons set
- Snake River spring Chinook closes in Clarkston area
- Spring Chinook to open for 4 additional days on the Columbia River
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp fishery
- Spring Chinook season to open on Skagit River
- Coastal commercial salmon troll opening
- Many recreational fishing opportunities reopen May 5, 2020
- Spring Chinook to open in portions of the Snake River
- Spring bear season reopens on May 5 and extends to June 30
- WDFW lands reopen to public on May 5
- Columbia River spring Chinook opens above and below Bonneville, plus sockeye in the lower River set
April
- Puget Sound commercial shrimp rule
- Commercial razor clam season opens May 1
- Spring turkey season reopens on May 5
- Coastal commercial crab rule
- Suspension of the sale and issuance of non-resident recreational fishing licenses
- Puget Sound commercial scallop fishery
- Opens Puget Sound commercial trawl and pot fisheries for shrimp
- Closes Puget Sound commercial crab Region 3-3
- Spring Bear Season Delay
- Turkey Spring Season Delay
- Columbia River below Bonneville commercial rule
March
- 2020 Spring Black Bear Season Delay
- Youth and Hunter Education Instructor Turkey Hunts
- River Otter and Bobcat Pelt Sealing
- WDFW Camping and Land Closure
- All recreational fishing and shellfish harvesting closed
- Salmon and steelhead rule changes for several Southwest Washington waters
- Sturgeon retention closes in John Day pool
- 2020 Columbia River Select Area commercial seasons
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Opens recreational salmon in Bellingham Bay fishery area
February
- Closes the 2019-2020 commercial sea urchin season
- Willapa Bay tributaries will close to all fishing
- Razor clam digs approved March 6 through March 11, 2020
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Columbia River spring Chinook seasons set
- Amends recreational fishing rules for Southwest Rivers
- Recreational smelt opener scheduled for Feb. 26
- Barbless hooks required for salmon and steelhead on the lower Columbia River
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Razor clam digs approved Feb. 20 through Feb. 23
- Recreational fishing to close in all waters of the Chehalis River Basin
- Puget Sound commercial crab fishery
- Columbia River commercial fishery below Bonneville Dam
- Coastal commercial crab fishery
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Recreational sturgeon fisheries to close in Bonneville and The Dalles pools
- Recreation eulachon smelt fishery opens for one day on part of the Cowlitz River
- Closes harvest of red sea urchins in Sea Urchin District 1 and Catch Reporting Areas 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B of Sea Urchin District 2
January
- Columbia River treaty fishery above Bonneville Dam
- Razor clam digs approved Feb. 6 through Feb. 12
- Columbia River commercial smelt season opens Mondays and Thursdays, Feb. 3 through Feb. 27
- Hoko River returns to permanent rules
- Puget Sound commercial sea urchin fishery
- Closes Puget Sound commercial crab Region 3-1
- Anglers must release all sturgeon in the McNary Pool
- Closes Puget Sound commercial crab Region 2-East
- Razor clam digs approved Jan. 21 through Jan. 26
- Coastal commercial crab fishery
- Coastal commercial crab rule
- Opens Puget Sound commercial crab Region 2E w/additional reporting requirements
- Puget Sound commercial crab Region 3-1 will remain open until further notice
- Puget Sound commercial crab rule: Region 3-1 to remain open until 6 p.m., Jan. 12
- Razor clam digs approved for Jan. 8 though Jan. 14
- Puget Sound commercial crab harvest closes in Region 3-1