See below for rules adopted in 2024 by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission or the Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public comment period has ended for all rules listed below.
See the Rule-making glossary for more information about the terms used here.
Permanent rules
This rule making adopts changes to Chapter 220-460 in order to implement amendments to RCW 77.65.615 through ESSB 5371 in the 2023 legislative session.
The rule proposal regulates the 2024 recreational salmon fisheries statewide and is part of a comprehensive rulemaking package. Specific rule changes include setting dates, times, species, and daily limits for 2024 recreational salmon fisheries in saltwater and freshwater areas.
The rule proposal regulates the 2024 commercial salmon purse seine, gillnet, reef net, and beach seine fisheries in Puget Sound and is part of a comprehensive rulemaking package. Specific rule changes include setting areas, dates, times, and minimum gillnet mesh size for 2024 Puget Sound commercial salmon harvest.
The rule proposal regulates the 2024 fall commercial salmon gillnet fisheries in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor and is part of a comprehensive rulemaking package. Specific rule changes include setting areas, dates, times, and minimum gillnet mesh size for 2024 coastal commercial salmon harvest.
The rule proposal inserts new legal standards into the existing rule for the installation of flotation materials in overwater structures (e.g., docks and swim floats). The proposed rule includes more detailed standards for containing foam flotation and is intended to reduce the release of foam into freshwaters and marine areas that could cause environmental concerns.
For the upcoming 3-year season setting, the department is considering rule changes for the following topics: Deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, equipment, waterfowl, trapping, small and upland game, landowner hunting permits and raffle hunts, and other related rule changes as needed.
The department is considering annual changes to rules for recreational clam, mussel, and oyster harvest seasons. These changes are based on recent clam and oyster population survey data, recreational harvest projections, and negotiations affecting intertidal Treaty and non-Treaty fisheries, along with public health considerations. Seasons will be opened or extended on some public beaches and closed or shortened on others.
This rule proposal began as a petition to the Commission and was approved by the Commission at their December 14-16, 2023 meeting. The rule proposal is intended to increase angler opportunity on Deer Lake in Stevens County. By increasing the recreational season length on Deer Lake for trout, this may eliminate a trophy fishery for the same trout.
Purpose of the proposal and its anticipated effects, including any changes in existing rules: The proposed amendments to WAC 220-440-210 Black bear timber damage depredation permits, if adopted, would repeal an existing rule and replace it with a new rule to provide a permitting process to issue permits to persons to lethally remove black bears to reduce damage to commercial timber. Peeling and consuming tree parts by black bears often results in permanent damage or death to the tree. This damage results in a financial loss to the tree owner. The proposed rule, if adopted, would identify how permits are applied for, applications are reviewed and issued or denied, conditioned, and administered. A black bear timber damage permit issued under the proposed rule would allow a person to remove one or more black bears as conditioned on the removal permit. The proposed rule, if adopted, would not apply to federal employees and agents while acting in their official capacities for the purpose of protecting private property.