The following 2024 Puget Sound commercial salmon fisheries regulations are the culmination of co-manager decision- making developed throughout this year’s North of Falcon (NOF) process and adopted by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC). This pamphlet summarizes the agreed-to schedules, rules for non-treaty fisheries, marine catch and exclusion areas, and other pertinent information. Management highlights for the 2024 season include:
All Areas: Fisheries Monitoring and Observing
Beginning in 2024, Puget Sound Commercial Salmon Monitoring Program will implement changes to the Onboard Observer Purse Seine vessel selection. These changes have been proposed to facilitate a safe, effective, and efficient monitoring process that supports meeting our harvest objectives and achieving our conservation goals in-season. WDFW will communicate more information on the proposed monitoring and observer adjustments with gear groups prior to the season.
Area 7/7A: Reef Net Coho fisheries allotted a 972 unmarked Coho cap and associated marked in September. Fishery sampled during offloads. Chum-directed fisheries schedule pending in-season update on Inside Southern Chum Abundance.
Area 7B/C: Coho management period returns to week 35. For management weeks 33, 34, and 35, gillnet hours have been adjusted from 7PM to 8AM to 7PM to 10AM. Whatcom Creek Zone is open during Chinook, Coho, and Chum management periods.
Area 8, and 8A, No scheduled fisheries, due to forecasted low abundances and conservation implications on multiple North Puget Sound Chinook stocks.
Area 8D: Gillnet coho fisheries scheduled for weeks 38 – 43. Closed for Purse Seine.
Area 10/11: Fall Chum fisheries dependent on ISU information from the Apple Cove Point Test Fishery. Week 42 Full Fleet, and weeks 43 – 45 if ISU is between 350,000 and 460,000, a limited participation fishery will be opened with 14,000 fish trip limit per week. If the ISU is larger than 460,000 in weeks 43 – 45, the state will resume a full schedule with ISU derived share. Single Purse Seine Test fishery at Apple Cove Point weeks 41 – 47 to collect winter chum genetic information. East and West Pass Purse Seine research sampling fisheries to be operated in Area 11 weeks 42 – 47, to collect fall chum genetic information.
Area 12/12B: Fall Chum fisheries Scheduled weeks 42 – 47. Hazel Point Closure Area is CLOSED.
Area 12C: Adjustment to Hoodsport Chinook Beach Seine fishery: Single day fishery (Mondays), weeks 31 – 36 with a 5,000 fish cap. Additional opportunity in-season based on achieving broodstock goals and co-manager agreement. Fall Chum fisheries dependent on agreed-to ISU.
Note to Readers: The regulations appearing in this pamphlet may be changed by subsequent emergency regulations at any time. Supplementary changes to the regulations will be available through the department’s website. This pamphlet is intended as an informational guide only. To be certain of the current laws, refer to the official RCW and WAC.