Applications for the 2019 and 2020 Washington salmon disasters affecting the Columbia River, Willapa Bay, Puget Sound, and Ocean Troll/Charter Fisheries are scheduled to open at 12:00 AM PDT on Thursday, May 8, 2025, and will remain open for a minimum of 90 days, closing no sooner than 11:59 PM PDT on Thursday, August 6, 2025.
Notifications that include a unique 8-digit ID (required to apply) are being mailed to qualifying individuals/entities the week of April 28, 2025. Those who held a 2020 Washington Ocean Charter Salmon license are being sent a similar notice, however, are additionally required to complete the “2020 Washington Ocean Charter Affidavit & Paid Salmon Angler Worksheet” in order to qualify and apply.
If you believe you qualify but did not receive a mailed notice, please wait until at least Tuesday, May 27, 2025 to inquire. Inquiries received prior to this date will not be responded to. This should allow sufficient time for USPS to deliver your notice or for parcels to be returned to sender.
Applicants are encouraged to review both the 2019 and 2020 Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) spend plans prior to inquiring to identify the qualifications needed for eligibility. Both of those documents may be found by clicking here.