Washington Administrative Code

(1)(a) It is unlawful to possess, transport through the waters of the state, or land in any Washington state port, bottomfish taken in excess of the amounts or less than the minimum or maximum sizes, or in violation of any of the possession, landing, or sorting requirements publi…

(1) It is unlawful for any vessel operator engaged in commercial otter trawl fishing in Coastal Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 58B, 59A-1, 59A-2, 59B, 60A-1, 60A-2, 61, 62, and 63, or possessing groundfish taken with such gear from those areas, to fail…

(1)(a) It is unlawful for any fisher to transport through the waters of the state, or to land in any Washington state port, bottomfish taken outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (more than 200 miles offshore), except that any fisher may transport bottomfish through the waters of t…

(1) The commercial Pacific halibut fishery is jointly managed by the Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 50 C.F.R. § 300,…

(1) It is unlawful to fish for or possess anchovy, candlefish, herring, sardine, or smelt taken for commercial purposes from Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 60C except as provided for in this section.General(2) It is unlawful to fish for or possess salmo…

(1) It is unlawful to fish for or possess anchovy, candlefish, herring, sardine, or smelt for commercial purposes in Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 60B except as provided for in this section.General(2) It is unlawful to fish for or possess salmon or stu…

(1) It is unlawful to fish for or possess smelt, anchovy, candlefish, herring, or sardine taken for commercial purposes from offshore waters, except as provided for in this section.General(2) It is unlawful to fail to immediately return to the water, unharmed, all species of fish…

(1) Licensing, harvest, and reporting requirements. It is unlawful for persons fishing under a Washington sardine purse seine fishery license or temporary annual fishery permit to fail to:(a) Carry an observer onboard for any sardine fishing trip if requested by the department;(b…

(1) It is unlawful to fish for or possess Puget Sound forage fish taken for commercial purposes except at the times, during the seasons and using the gear provided for in this chapter.(2) It is unlawful to fish for or possess candlefish taken for commercial purposes. A violation …

(1) Gear requirements: It is unlawful to operate drag seine gear in the Puget Sound herring, anchovy and smelt commercial fisheries that exceeds 350 feet in length or contains meshes less than 1/2 inch stretch measure. A violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.…

(1) Gear requirements:(a) It is unlawful to harvest smelt using purse seine gear in Puget Sound.(b) It is unlawful to operate purse seine gear in the Puget Sound herring and anchovy fisheries that exceeds 600 feet in length or contains meshes less than 1/2-inch stretch measure, u…

(1) Gear requirements:(a) It is unlawful to harvest smelt using dip bag net gear in Puget Sound.(b) It is unlawful to operate dip bag net gear in the Puget Sound herring and anchovy fisheries that exceeds 18 square feet.(c) It is unlawful to operate a dip net from a vessel under …

(1) Lawful lampara gear in the Puget Sound herring and anchovy fisheries shall not exceed 200 feet in length or contain meshes less than 1/2-inch stretch measure. Lampara gear is not lawful gear for taking smelt in Puget Sound.(2) Licensing:(a) A baitfish lampara fishery license …

(1) It is unlawful to fish for herring, anchovy or smelt using otter trawl gear or gillnet gear except as authorized by permit issued by the director.(2) Licensing: The permit issued by the director will specify the fishery license required to operate the permit.[Statutory Author…

It shall be unlawful to take, fish for or possess for commercial purposes herring or anchovy in Puget Sound except during lawful seasons, with lawful gear and for such purposes as provided for hereinafter in each respective fishing area:(1) Area 20A.(a) Closed September 1 through…

All herring, anchovy and pilchard live boxes or other devices for holding live bait shall have attached thereto the fishery license number of the owner in plainly legible letters not less than 3 inches in height, clearly visible above the waterline. In the case of licensed dealer…

(1) The director may validate an individual or operator to fish for herring if the individual or operator:(a) Submits proof that he or she invested in a boat and herring fishing equipment prior to April 26, 1973; and(b) Agrees to use any herring he or she harvests for bait only.(…

(1) The director may validate an individual owner or operator of a resort or marina to fish for herring if the owner or operator submits proof to the department in the form of a notarized affidavit that he or she is unable to purchase live, fresh, or frozen herring (dependent on …

(1) It is unlawful to take, fish for or possess smelt or herring for any purpose except human consumption or fishing bait, except that the director may authorize by permit the taking of smelt or herring in specified areas, quantities and times for emergency use as zoo food for an…

(1) Herring fishers:(a) All commercial herring fishers are required to obtain a department-issued herring reporting monthly logbook, and, pursuant to this section, enter the required information and remit the department's copies of the monthly logs.(b) It is unlawful for the oper…

(1) Any herring fisher holding a herring fishery license under chapter 77.65 RCW may participate in an auction for a spawn on kelp license (SOK license). Proof of current herring licensing must be presented before entering the auction. No more than one SOK license will be awarded…

(1) Spawn on kelp license (SOK license) contracts shall protect the environment, prevent waste, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and ensure faithful performance of lease terms and conditions.(2) SOK licensees shall not sell any spawn on kelp to anyone who i…

It is unlawful to take, fish for or possess smelt for commercial purposes in Puget Sound except during the following seasons:(1) Areas 20A and 21A: Open July 1 through April 15.(2) Area 22B: Open November 1 through April 15.(3) Areas 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D: Open July 1 through Ap…

It is unlawful to fish for smelt for commercial purposes in Puget Sound except from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day Monday through Thursday during open seasons. It is unlawful to possess smelt taken for commercial purposes during a closed time. A violation of this section is pun…

It is unlawful to fish for or possess sturgeon taken for commercial purposes from Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 60C except at those times and with such gear as provided by emergency rule of the director, and subject to the provisions of this section:It…

It is unlawful to fish for or possess sturgeon taken for commercial purposes from Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 60B except at those times and with such gear as provided by emergency rule of the director, and subject to the provisions of this section:It…

(1) The lower Columbia River, Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay are closed to commercial sturgeon fishing, except as provided by emergency rule of the director. Sturgeon taken incidentally during an open commercial salmon fishing period may be retained for commercial purposes when all…

(1) It is unlawful to fish for food fish in the lower Columbia River for commercial purposes or to possess food fish taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except as provided in this chapter.(2) In the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam and in the select areas …

As used in this chapter and emergency rules of the director, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:Grays Bay(1) "Grays Bay sanctuary" means those waters of the Columbia River and Grays Bay northerly of a line projected from Rocky Point Light (flashing green 4-second) east…

It is unlawful to fish for salmon in the lower Columbia River for commercial purposes or to possess salmon taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except as provided in this section:Gear(1) It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for salmon if the net exceeds 1,500 feet …

It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon in the lower Columbia River for commercial purposes or to possess sturgeon taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except as provided in this section:Gear(1) It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for sturgeon if the net exceeds 1,500…

It is unlawful to fish for shad in the lower Columbia River for commercial purposes, or to possess shad taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except as provided in this section:Gear(1) Gillnet gear may be used to fish for shad if:(a) The cork line of the gillnet does n…

It is unlawful to fish for smelt in the lower Columbia River for commercial purposes or to possess smelt taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except as provided in this section:Gear(1) Otter trawl gear may be used to fish for smelt if:(a) The head rope of the trawl do…

It is unlawful to fish for herring or anchovy in the lower Columbia River for commercial purposes or to possess herring or anchovy taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except as provided in this section:Gear(1) Purse seine and lampara gear may be used to fish for anch…

(1) It is unlawful for any person to take, fish for or possess fish for treaty related ceremonial, subsistence or commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, 1H, and 1E1 unless:(a) The person has in possession a valid identification c…

(1) It shall be unlawful to take, fish for and possess fish for commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, and 1H except as allowed in this chapter or by emergency regulation.(2) Violation of this section is punishable as a gross mis…

(1) It shall be unlawful to take, fish for or possess fish taken for commercial purposes with any net in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, and 1H except as provided for in emergency regulation.(2) Violation of this section is punishable as a gross…

(1) It is unlawful for any person to take, fish for, or possess fish for subsistence purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, 1H, and 1E1 unless:(a) The person possesses treaty fishing rights pursuant to the Yakima Treaty, the Warm Springs Tr…

(1) It shall be lawful to take, fish for and possess shad taken for commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, and 1H during the times and with the gear types as prescribed by emergency rule.(2) It is unlawful to sell any salmon, ste…

(1) It is unlawful to take, fish for or possess sturgeon taken for commercial purposes in Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, and 1H except individuals possessing treaty fishing rights pursuant to the Yakima, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce tr…

It shall be unlawful to take, fish for or possess fish taken for commercial purposes in or from the following designated closed waters adjacent to the mouths of streams tributary to Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1F, 1G, and 1H during the time periods …

(1) It shall be unlawful for any Indian to conduct ceremonial fishing on the Washington side of the Columbia River or in Washington Columbia River tributaries outside of an Indian reservation without first providing at least one week advance written notification to the director o…

The following definitions apply to this chapter:(1) "Experimental fishery permit" means a permit issued by the director for either:(a) An "emerging commercial fishery" defined as a fishery for a newly classified species for which the department has determined that there is a need…

(1) The director will issue experimental fishery permits after the date the rules take effect designating a fishery as either an emerging commercial fishery or an expanding commercial fishery and establishing the number and qualifications of permit holders.(2) Only persons meetin…

The five-person advisory board that will review and make recommendations regarding number and qualifications of persons who will receive experimental fishery permits shall have knowledge of the commercial fishing industry.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020,…

(1) Applications for trial commercial fishery permits must specify the species, fishing area, and fishing method to be used.(2) The department will respond to any request for a trial commercial fishery permit within sixty days of receiving the application.(3) Only persons who hol…

The purpose of this chapter is to license and provide catch reporting requirements for the commercial harvest of wild clams, mussels, and oysters on nonstate lands in an emerging commercial fishery. For purposes of this chapter, "wild" or "wild stocks of" clams, mussels, and oyst…

The director designates the commercial harvest of wild clams, mussels, and oysters from nonstate tidelands and bedlands as an emerging commercial fishery for which use of a vessel is not required.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047.…

(1) Persons having an ownership interest or contractual right to take shellfish from nonstate owned tidelands or bedlands and who intend to commercially harvest wild stocks of clams, mussels, or oysters are eligible to obtain a nonstate lands commercial wild clam, mussel, and oys…

(1) A person making application for a wild clam, mussel, and oyster trial fishery permit must provide the following for each site:(a) Documentation of ownership interest in or contractual right to harvest from the lands from which the wild clams, mussels, or oysters are to be har…