Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE

The director may issue permits to members of the Wanapum band of Indians to take salmon and other freshwater food fish for ceremonial and subsistence purposes. The department shall establish the areas in which the permits are valid and shall regulate the times for and manner of t…

The commission may prohibit the introduction, transportation or transplanting of fish, shellfish, organisms, material, or other equipment which in the commission's judgment may transmit any disease or pests affecting fish or shellfish.[ 2001 c 253 s 22; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 16 (R…

A person other than the United States, an Indian tribe recognized as such by the federal government, the state, a subdivision of the state, or a municipal corporation or an agency of such a unit of government shall not release salmon or steelhead trout into the public waters of t…

The director has the authority, subject to the processes and limitation outlined in chapter 79.100 RCW, to store, strip, use, auction, sell, salvage, scrap, or dispose of an abandoned or derelict vessel found on or above publicly or privately owned aquatic lands within the jurisd…

(1) The director shall establish a wildlife rehabilitation program to help support the critical role licensed wildlife rehabilitators play in protecting the public by capturing, testing for disease, and caring for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife in Washington state. The dire…

The department must develop a process for renewing wildlife rehabilitation licenses. All wildlife rehabilitation licenses issued by the department prior to January 1, 2006, must be renewed by January 1, 2010. The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.[…

The wildlife rehabilitation account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from moneys directed to the account from RCW 46.68.435 must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used onl…

(1) The fish and wildlife equipment revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The department must reimburse the account for all moneys expended from the account. Reimbursements may be made with moneys appropriated to the department or from other moneys o…

Upon filing a certificate with the commissioner of public lands that shows that lands will be used for public shooting grounds by the department, the lands shall be withdrawn from sale or lease and then may be used as public shooting grounds under control of the department. The c…

Tidelands granted to the department to be used as public shooting grounds shall revert to the state if used for another purpose. The department shall certify the reversion to the commissioner of public lands who shall then supervise and control the lands as provided in Title 79 R…

The commission may adopt rules regarding the use of the tidelands as shooting grounds.[ 1980 c 78 s 127; 1955 c 36 s 77.40.060. Prior: 1941 c 190 s 4; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7993-9. Formerly RCW 77.40.060.]Notes:Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980 c 78: See n…

The commission shall establish the qualifications and conditions for issuing a game farm license. The director shall adopt rules governing the operation of game farms. Private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020 are exempt from regulation under this secti…

A licensed game farmer may purchase, sell, give away, or dispose of the eggs of game birds or game fish lawfully possessed as provided by rule of the director.[ 1987 c 506 s 50; 1980 c 78 s 99; 1955 c 36 s 77.28.070. Prior: 1947 c 275 s 87; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 5992-96. Formerly RCW…

Wildlife given away, sold, or transferred by a licensed game farmer shall have attached to each wildlife member, package, or container, a tag, seal, or invoice as required by rule of the director. Private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020 are exempt fro…

A common carrier may transport wildlife shipped by a licensed game farmer if the wildlife is tagged, sealed, or invoiced as provided in RCW 77.12.590. Packages containing wildlife shall have affixed to them tags or labels showing the name of the licensee and the consignee. For pu…

The purposes of RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 are to facilitate the department's gathering of biological data for managing wildlife, fish, and shellfish resources of this state and to protect these resources by assuring compliance with Title 77 RCW, and rules adopted thereunder…

The department is authorized to require hunters and fishers occupying a motor vehicle approaching or entering a check station to stop and produce for inspection: (1) Any wildlife, fish, shellfish, or seaweed in their possession; (2) licenses, permits, tags, stamps, or catch recor…

The powers conferred by RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 are in addition to all other powers conferred by law upon the department. Nothing in RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 shall be construed to prohibit the department from operating wildlife information stations at which persons…

The department shall cooperate with other local, state, and federal agencies and governments to protect bald eagles and their essential habitats through existing governmental programs, including but not limited to:(1) The natural heritage program managed by the department of natu…

The department, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, shall adopt and enforce necessary rules defining the extent and boundaries of habitat buffer zones for bald eagles. Rules shall take into account the need for variation of the extent of the zone from case to case, and the need…

(1) Beginning July 1, 2011, the department, after soliciting recommendations from the public, shall select the design for the *migratory bird stamp.(2) All revenue derived from the sale of migratory bird license validations or stamps by the department to any person hunting waterf…

(1) The director is responsible for the selection of the annual *migratory bird stamp design. The department shall create collector art prints and related artwork, utilizing the same design. The administration, sale, distribution, and other matters relating to the prints and sale…

(1) The department is directed to develop and implement a rockfish research and stock assessment program. Using funds from the rockfish research account created in subsection (2) of this section, the department must conduct Puget Sound basin and coastal surveys with new and exist…

If the population of southern resident orcas reaches a threshold of 70 individuals or fewer, the department must provide a report to the legislature within one year of the threshold being met, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, that includes a study of how mandatory 1,000-yard setbac…

For the purposes of establishing a season or bag limit restriction on Canada goose hunting, the commission shall not consider leg length or bill length of dusky Canada geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis).[ 2000 c 107 s 259; 1998 c 190 s 119; 1996 c 207 s 3; 1987 c 506 s 59; 19…

(1) Prior to transferring ownership of a department-owned vessel, the department shall conduct a thorough review of the physical condition of the vessel, the vessel's operating capability, and any containers and other materials that are not fixed to the vessel.(2) If the departme…

(1) Following the inspection required under RCW 77.12.732 and prior to transferring ownership of a department-owned vessel, the department shall obtain the following from the transferee:(a) The purposes for which the transferee intends to use the vessel; and(b) Information demons…

(1) The Columbia river recreational salmon and steelhead endorsement program account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from Columbia river salmon and steelhead endorsement purchases under RCW 77.12.745 and gifts made for purposes of the Columbia river…

(1) In addition to a recreational license required under this chapter, a Columbia river salmon and steelhead endorsement is required in order for any person 15 years of age or older to fish recreationally for salmon or steelhead in the Columbia river and its tributaries where the…

(1) By December 1, 2026, the department and the relevant stakeholders shall review the Columbia river salmon and steelhead endorsement program, prepare a brief summary of the activities conducted under the program, and provide this summary and a recommendation whether the program…

In coordination with the department of natural resources and lead entity groups, the department must establish a ranked inventory of fish passage barriers on land owned by small forestland owners based on the principle of fixing the worst first within a watershed consistent with …

Steelhead trout shall be managed solely as a recreational fishery for non-Indian fishers under the rule-setting authority of the fish and wildlife commission.Commercial non-Indian steelhead fisheries are not authorized.[ 2013 c 23 s 241; 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 78.]Notes:Effective date—…

The director shall develop proposals to reinstate the natural salmon and steelhead trout fish runs in the Tilton and upper Cowlitz rivers in accordance with RCW 77.04.120(3).[ 2000 c 107 s 206; 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 65; 1985 c 208 s 2. Formerly RCW 77.04.100.]Notes:Effective date—1993…

There is created within the department the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement program. The purpose of the program is to improve the harvest of pheasants by releasing pen-reared rooster pheasants on sites accessible for public hunting and by providing grants for habitat enhan…

The commission must establish special pheasant hunting opportunities for juvenile hunters in eastern Washington for the 1998 season and future seasons.[ 1997 c 422 s 3.]Notes:Findings—1997 c 422: See note following RCW 77.12.790.

Five percent of the revenue received from the sale of each small game hunting license fee shall be deposited in the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account created in RCW 77.12.820.[ 2025 c 328 s 2; 1998 c 191 s 30; 1997 c 422 s 4.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 328: See not…

The eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts under RCW 77.12.810 must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account are subject to legislative appropriation and shall be used for the purpose of funding the…

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 77.12.850 through 77.12.860 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Salmon" means all species of the genus Oncorhynchus, except those classified as game fish in this title, and includes:Scientific NameCommon NameOnco…

(1) The Washington salmon stamp program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is the creation of a stamp that will portray a salmonid species native to Washington and will be used for stamps, prints, and posters that can be sold in a wide range of prices and ed…

(1) The Washington junior salmon stamp program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is the creation of a stamp that will portray a salmonid species native to Washington and will be used for stamps, prints, and posters that can be sold in a wide range of prices…

All receipts from the salmon stamp program created under RCW 77.12.850 through 77.12.860 must be deposited into the regional fisheries enhancement salmonid recovery account created under RCW 77.95.130. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes specified in R…

The department is granted the authority to establish by rule the method for selecting appropriate designs for the Washington salmon stamp program and Washington junior salmon stamp program. The stamp shall be designed and produced in accordance with department rules.[ 1999 c 342 …

(1) As used in this section and RCW 77.12.870, "derelict fishing gear" includes lost or abandoned fishing nets, fishing lines, and other commercial and recreational fishing equipment. The term does not include lost or abandoned vessels or shellfish pots.(2) The department, in par…

(1) The department, in partnership with the Northwest straits commission, the department of natural resources, and other interested parties, must create and ensure the maintenance of a database of known derelict fishing gear and shellfish pots, including the type of gear and its …

The department shall manage wildlife programs in a manner that provides for public opportunities to view wildlife and supports nature-based and wildlife viewing tourism without impairing the state's wildlife resources.[ 2003 c 153 s 3.]Notes:Findings—2003 c 153: See note followin…

Except for the personal information on reported depredations by wolves that is exempted from disclosure as provided in RCW 42.56.430, the department shall post on its internet website all reported predatory wildlife interactions, including reported human safety confrontations or …

The department shall cooperate, when appropriate, as a partner in the Washington conservation corps established in chapter 43.220 RCW.[ 2011 c 20 s 15.]Notes:Findings—Intent—2011 c 20: See note following RCW 43.220.020.Intent—Application—2011 c 20: See RCW 43.220.905.

(1) The commission may establish by rule a surcharge on all fees authorized under chapters 77.32, 77.65, and 77.70 RCW by November 1st of each odd-numbered year if the commission determines that the surcharge is necessary to fund compensation, central services, and other increase…