Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this title, a person must have a license issued by the director in order to engage in any of the following activities:(a) Commercially fish for or take food fish or shellfish;(b) Deliver from a commercial fishing vessel food fish or shellfish t…

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this title, a license issued under this chapter is not transferable from the license holder to any other person. This may not be deemed to prohibit the granting or enforcement of a security interest in any such license.(2) The following restrictio…

The application deadline for a commercial license or permit established in this chapter is December 31st of the calendar year for which the license or permit is sought. The department shall accept no license or permit applications after December 31st of the calendar year for whic…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may hold a commercial license established by this chapter.(2) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual may hold a commercial license only if the individual is sixteen years of age or older and a bona fide r…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the director shall issue commercial licenses and permits to a qualified person upon receiving a completed application accompanied by the required fee.(2) An application submitted to the department under this chapter shall contain th…

If, for any reason, the department does not allow any opportunity for a commercial fishery during a calendar year, the director shall either: (1) Waive the requirement to obtain a license for that commercial fishery for that year; or (2) refund applicable license fees upon return…

(1) A commercial license issued under this chapter permits the license holder to engage in the activity for which the license is issued in accordance with this title and the rules of the department.(2) Unless otherwise provided in this title or rules of the department, commercial…

(1) The department shall immediately suspend the license of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order.(2) A listing on the department of licensing's database…

This section applies to all commercial fishery licenses, delivery licenses, and charter licenses, except for emergency salmon delivery licenses.(1) The holder of a license subject to this section may substitute the vessel designated on the license or designate a vessel if none ha…

(1) This section applies to all commercial fishery licenses, delivery licenses, and charter licenses.(2) An applicant for a license subject to this section may designate a vessel to be used with the license. Except for emergency salmon delivery licenses, the director may issue a …

This section applies to all commercial fishery licenses and delivery licenses.(1) A person designated as an alternate operator must possess an alternate operator license issued under RCW 77.65.130, and be designated on the fishery license prior to engaging in the activities autho…

(1) Only the fishery license holder and any alternate operators designated on the license may sell or deliver fish or shellfish under a commercial fishery license or delivery license. A commercial fishery license or delivery license authorizes no taking or delivery of fish or she…

(1) A person who holds a commercial fishery license or a delivery license may operate the vessel designated on the license. A person who is not the license holder may operate the vessel designated on the license only if:(a) The person holds an alternate operator license issued by…

The director may, by rule, increase the number of alternate operators beyond the level authorized by RCW 77.65.050 and 77.65.110 for a commercial fishery license, delivery license, or charter license.[ 2000 c 107 s 35; 1997 c 421 s 1. Formerly RCW 75.28.055.]

(1) The licenses and permits and their annual license fees, application fees, and surcharges are: LicenseorPermitAnnual Fee(RCW 77.95.090 Surcharge)(RCW 77.12.702 Surcharge)Appli-cation FeeGoverningSection ResidentNonresident (a)Non-salmon charter$375(plus $35 for RCW 77.12.702 S…

(1) The following commercial salmon fishery licenses are required for the license holder to use the specified gear to fish for salmon in state waters. Only a person who meets the qualifications of RCW 77.70.090 may hold a license listed in this subsection. The licenses and their …

(1) A salmon delivery license is required for a commercial fishing vessel to deliver salmon taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters to a place or port in the state. As used in this section, "deliver" and "delivery" mean arrival at a place or port, and include arrivals fr…

(1) The legislature finds that landing salmon into the ports of Washington state, regardless of where such salmon have been harvested, is economically beneficial to those ports as well as to the citizens of the state of Washington. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to…

A person who does not qualify for a license under RCW 77.70.090 shall obtain a nontransferable emergency salmon delivery license to make one delivery from a commercial fishing vessel of salmon taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters. As used in this section, "delivery" m…

(1) This section establishes commercial fishery licenses required for food fish fisheries and the annual fees for those licenses. As used in this section, "food fish" does not include salmon. The director may issue a limited-entry commercial fishery license only to a person who m…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person may not use a commercial fishing vessel to deliver food fish or shellfish taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters to a port in the state without a nonlimited entry delivery license. As used in this sectio…

(1) This section establishes commercial fishery licenses required for shellfish fisheries and the annual fees for those licenses. The director may issue a limited entry commercial fishery license only to a person who meets the qualifications established in applicable governing se…

A surcharge of one hundred twenty dollars shall be collected with each Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license issued under RCW 77.65.220. Moneys collected under this section shall be placed in the coastal crab account created under RCW 77.70.320.[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 8 s 28; 2000 c …

A hardshell clam mechanical harvester fishery license is required to operate a mechanical or hydraulic device for commercially harvesting clams, other than geoduck clams, unless the requirements of RCW 77.55.021 are fulfilled for the proposed activity.[ 2005 c 146 s 1005; 2000 c …

A person who commercially takes shellfish from state oyster reserves under RCW 77.60.050 must have an oyster reserve fishery license.[ 2000 c 107 s 47; 1993 c 340 s 20; 1989 c 316 s 14; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 s 131; 1969 ex.s. c 91 s 2; 1955 c 12 s 75.28.290. Prior: 1951 c 271 s 27;…

An oyster cultch permit is required for commercial cultching of oysters on state oyster reserves. The director shall require that ten percent of the cultch bags or other collecting materials be provided to the state after the oysters have set, for the purposes of increasing the s…

(1) A fish dealer license is required for a person in the state who:(a) Takes possession of raw or frozen fish or shellfish, in whole or in parts, to prepare, repackage, process, or preserve. This includes, but is not limited to:(i) Canning or processing of fish or shellfish for …

Wholesale fish buyers and limited fish sellers are required to document the commercial harvest of fish and shellfish according to the rules of the department.[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 8 s 30; 1996 c 267 s 29; 1985 c 248 s 4. Formerly RCW 75.28.315.]Notes:Finding—Intent—Effective date—20…

(1) A wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller must deposit with the department an acceptable performance bond on forms prescribed and furnished by the department before engaging in fish selling or buying activities. This performance bond shall be a corporate surety bond execu…

The director shall promptly notify by order a wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller and the appropriate surety when a violation of rules relating to the accounting of commercial harvest has occurred. The notification shall specify the type of violation, the liability to be …

(1) A wholesale fish buyer endorsement is required for a licensed fish dealer:(a) To take first possession or ownership of fish or shellfish directly from a commercial fisher that is landed into the state of Washington;(b) To take first possession or ownership of raw or frozen fi…

(1) Crewmembers on a boat designated on a salmon charter license may sell salmon roe subject to rules of the department as long as:(a) The salmon is taken by an angler fishing on the charter boat and recorded on the angler's catch record card;(b) The roe is the property of the an…

(1) A person shall not offer or perform the services of a food fish guide without a food fish guide license in the taking of food fish for personal use, except that a charter boat license is required to operate a vessel from which a person may for a fee fish for food fish in stat…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter "ocean pink shrimp" means the species Pandalus jordani.[ 1993 c 376 s 2. Formerly RCW 75.28.720.]Notes:Findings—1993 c 376: "The legislature finds that the offshore Washington, Oregon, and California commercia…

An ocean pink shrimp delivery license is required for a commercial fishing vessel to deliver ocean pink shrimp taken for commercial purposes in offshore waters and delivered to a port in the state. As used in this section, "deliver" and "delivery" mean arrival at a place or port,…

(1) The director may by rule designate a fishery as an emerging commercial fishery. The director shall include in the designation whether the fishery is one that requires a vessel.(2) "Emerging commercial fishery" means the commercial taking of a newly classified species of food …

(1)(a) Every diver engaged in the commercial harvest of subtidal geoduck clams shall obtain a geoduck diver license. An individual may only own one license and all geoduck harvesting performed under the license must be done personally by the actual license holder.(b) The licensin…

By July 1, 1994, the commission jointly with the appropriate Indian tribes, shall each establish a wild salmonid policy. The policy shall ensure that department actions and programs are consistent with the goals of rebuilding wild stock populations to levels that permit commercia…

The director shall evaluate and recommend, in consultation with the Indian tribes, salmon fishery management strategies and gear types, as well as a schedule for implementation, that will minimize the impact of commercial and recreational fishing in the mixed stock fishery on cri…

The director shall issue the personal licenses listed in this section according to the requirements of this title. The licenses and their annual fees are:PersonalLicenseAnnual Fee(RCW 77.95.090 Surcharge)Applica-tion FeeGoverningSection ResidentNonresident (1) AlternateOperator$1…

A state trapping license allows the holder to trap fur-bearing animals throughout the state. However, a trapper may not place traps on private property without permission of the owner, lessee, or tenant where the land is improved and apparently used, or where the land is fenced o…

Persons purchasing a state trapping license for the first time shall present certification of completion of a course of instruction in safe, humane, and proper trapping techniques or pass an examination to establish that the applicant has the requisite knowledge.The director shal…

(1) A taxidermy license allows the holder to practice taxidermy for commercial purposes, as that term is defined in RCW 77.15.110. The fee for this license is one hundred eighty dollars. The application fee is seventy dollars.(2) A fur dealer's license allows the holder to purcha…

(1) A license issued by the director is required to:(a) Practice taxidermy for commercial purposes;(b) Deal in raw furs for commercial purposes;(c) Act as a fishing guide; or(d) Operate a game farm.(2) A permit issued by the director is required to:(a) Conduct, hold, or sponsor h…

Licensed taxidermists, fur dealers, fishing guides, game farmers, and persons stocking game fish or conducting a hunting, fishing, or field trial contest shall make reports as required by rules of the director.[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 8 s 40; 2015 c 97 s 9; 1987 c 506 s 84; 1983 c 284 …

(1) The limited fish seller endorsement permits a license holder or alternate operator to clean, dress, and sell his or her commercially harvested catch directly to consumers at retail. The limited fish seller endorsement may be issued as an optional addition to all holders of a …

(1) A Washington-coastal spot shrimp pot fishery license is required to:(a) Use spot shrimp pot gear to fish for spot shrimp;(b) Possess spot shrimp; and(c) Deliver spot shrimp.(2) Washington-coastal spot shrimp pot fishery licenses require vessel designation under RCW 77.65.100.…

The department must revoke a geoduck diver license issued under RCW 77.65.410, and the licensee must surrender the license, if the licensee is found in violation of a department of natural resources' geoduck harvest agreement two or more times. The person surrendering the geoduck…

(1) Any application for a food fish guide license or game fish guide license under RCW 77.65.480 must include:(a) The applicant's driver's license or other government-issued identification card number and the jurisdiction of issuance;(b) The applicant's unified business identifie…

(1) In addition to other license suspension provisions provided in this title, the department may suspend a charter boat license, food fish guide license, or game fish guide license if, within a twelve-month period, a person is convicted of two or more violations of any rule of t…