The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that, effective today, Friday, Sept. 22, pink salmon fishing is closed on the Snoqualmie, Snohomish and Skykomish Rivers.

Department officials said the rule is necessary to protect returning pink salmon runs to the Snohomish River watershed. These salmon runs are projected to below the goal for the Snohomish basin, according to in-season run-size assessments conducted by state and tribal co-managers.

The Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers are tributaries to the Snohomish River. The Wallace River, another tributary to the Snohomish River, remains closed to all fishing.

The Snoqualmie, Snohomish and Skykomish Rivers will still be open to fishing for other species of salmon, with a daily limit of three coho.