Title 77, FISH AND WILDLIFE

A person commercially fishing for Dungeness crab in offshore waters outside of Washington state jurisdiction shall obtain a Dungeness crab offshore delivery license from the director if the person does not possess a valid Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license and the person wish…

Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses are freely transferable on a willing seller-willing buyer basis after paying the transfer fee in RCW 77.65.020. [ 2000 c 107 s 78; 1997 c 418 s 3; 1994 c 260 s 5. Formerly RCW 75.30.380.] Notes: Finding—Severability—1994 c 260: See notes fo…

The coastal crab account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The account shall consist of revenues from fees from the transfer of each Dungeness crab-coastal fishery license assessed under RCW 77.65.020, delivery fees assessed under RCW 77.70.300, and the license su…

Expenditures from the coastal crab account may be made by the department for management of the coastal crab resource. Management activities may include studies of resource viability, interstate negotiations concerning regulation of the offshore crab resource, resource enhancement…

(1) An Oregon resident who can show historical and continuous participation in the Washington state coastal crab fishery by having held a nonresident non-Puget Sound crab pot license issued under RCW 77.65.220 each year from 1990 through 1994, and who has delivered a minimum of e…

(1) The following restrictions apply to vessel designations and substitutions on Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses: (a) The holder of the license may not: (i) Designate on the license a vessel the hull length of which exceeds ninety-nine feet; or (ii) Change vessel designat…

Except as provided under *RCW 77.70.380, the director shall issue no new Dungeness crab-coastal fishery licenses after December 31, 1995. A person may renew an existing license only if the person held the license sought to be renewed during the previous year or acquired the licen…

(1) A Dungeness crab—coastal fishery licensee shall not take Dungeness crab in the waters of the exclusive economic zone westward of the states of Oregon or California and land crab taken in those waters into Washington state unless the licensee also holds the licenses, permits, …

The director may reduce the landing requirements established under RCW 77.70.280 upon the recommendation of an advisory review board established under *RCW 77.70.030, but the director may not entirely waive the landing requirement. The advisory review board may recommend a reduct…

The department, with input from Dungeness crab—coastal fishery licensees and processors, shall prepare a resource plan to achieve even-flow harvesting and long-term stability of the coastal Dungeness crab resource. The plan may include pot limits, further reduction in the number …

(1) The shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery is a limited entry fishery and a person shall not fish for spot shrimp or nonspot shrimp taken from Puget Sound for commercial purposes with shrimp pot gear except under the provisions of a shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license issued under…

(1) The shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery is a limited entry fishery and a person shall not fish for nonspot shrimp taken from Puget Sound for commercial purposes with shrimp trawl gear except under the provisions of a shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license issued under RCW 77.6…

(1) The nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery is a limited entry fishery and a person may not fish for nonspot shrimp for commercial purposes with nonspot shrimp pot gear except under the provisions of a nonspot shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license or a shrimp pot-Puget Sound …

(1) In order to administer a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program, the department may charge a fee to holders of a Dungeness crab—Puget Sound fishery license to reimburse the department for the production of Puget Sound crab pot buoy tags and the administration of a Puget Sound …

The Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All revenues from fees from RCW 77.70.430(1) must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from this account may be used for the production of crab pot buoy tags and the administration …

The Washington coastal crab pot buoy tag account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All revenues from fees from RCW 77.70.430(2) must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from this account may be used for the production of crab pot buoy tags and the administ…

The commercial fisheries buyback account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from money collected by the commission under RCW 77.70.460, moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section, and other gifts, grants, or donations specifically made to the…

(1) The commission shall collect a fee upon all deliveries of fish or shellfish from persons holding: (a) A federal pacific groundfish limited entry permit with a trawl endorsement; (b) an ocean pink shrimp delivery license issued under RCW 77.65.390; (c) a Dungeness crab—coastal…

The commission may not assess the fee specified under RCW 77.70.460 until after the federal government creates a groundfish fleet reduction program. [ 2003 c 174 s 3.] Notes: Contingent expiration date—2003 c 174 ss 2 and 3: See note following RCW 77.70.460.

(1) A Washington sardine purse seine fishery license or temporary annual fishery permit is required to use purse seine gear to fish for or possess Pacific sardines in offshore waters. This requirement does not affect persons authorized to fish for or possess sardines in offshore …

(1) A Washington Pacific sardine purse seine fishery license: (a) May only be issued to a person that held a coastal pilchard experimental fishery permit in 2008, except as otherwise provided in this section; (b) Must be renewed annually to remain active; and (c) Subject to the r…

(1)(a) As part of a coastal commercial Dungeness crab pot removal program, the department shall issue a crab pot removal permit that allows the participants in the Dungeness crab-coastal fishery created in RCW 77.70.280 to remove crab pots belonging to state commercial licensed c…

(1) A Washington-coastal spot shrimp pot fishery license: (a) May only be issued to a natural person who held a coastal spot shrimp experimental emerging commercial fishery license and coastal spot shrimp fishery permit in 2010 or had the license transferred to him or her, under …

There exists between the states of Washington and Oregon a definite compact and agreement as follows: All laws and regulations now existing or which may be necessary for regulating, protecting or preserving fish in the waters of the Columbia river, or its tributaries, over which …

The commission may give to the state of Oregon such consent and approbation of the state of Washington as is necessary under the compact set out in RCW 77.75.010. For the purposes of RCW 77.75.010, the states of Washington and Oregon have concurrent jurisdiction in the concurrent…

There exists between the states of Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington a definite compact and agreement as follows: THE PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT The contracting states do hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I. The purposes of this compact are and shall be to pro…

A member selected by or a designee of the fish and wildlife commission, ex officio, and two appointees of the governor representing the fishing industry shall act as the representatives of this state on the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission. The appointees of the governor are s…

The state of Washington is authorized to enter into an interstate compact or compacts with all or any of the states of California, Idaho, and Oregon to protect and restore coastal ecosystems of these states to levels that will prevent the need for listing any native salmonid fish…

Until such time as the agencies in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington present a final proposed interstate compact for enactment by their respective legislative bodies, the governor may establish cooperative agreements with the states of California, Idaho, and Oregon that a…

The wildlife violator compact is hereby established in the form substantially as follows, and the Washington state department of fish and wildlife is authorized to enter into such compact on behalf of the state with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein: ARTICLE I FINDI…

For purposes of Article VII of RCW 77.75.070, the term "licensing authority," with reference to this state, means the department. The director is authorized to appoint a compact administrator. [ 2000 c 107 s 261; 1994 c 264 s 56; 1993 c 82 s 2. Formerly RCW 77.17.020.] Notes: Rev…

The director shall furnish to the appropriate authorities of the participating states any information or documents reasonably necessary to facilitate the administration of the compact. [ 1994 c 264 s 57; 1993 c 82 s 3. Formerly RCW 77.17.030.] Notes: Revoked licenses—Application—…

The commission may cooperate with the Idaho fish and game commission in the adoption and enforcement of rules regarding wildlife on that portion of the Snake river forming the boundary between Washington and Idaho. [ 1980 c 78 s 62; 1967 c 62 s 1. Formerly RCW 77.12.450.] Notes: …

To enforce RCW 77.75.120 and 77.75.130, courts in the counties contiguous to the boundary waters, fish and wildlife officers, and ex officio fish and wildlife officers have jurisdiction over the boundary waters to the furthermost shoreline. This jurisdiction is concurrent with th…

The taking of wildlife from the boundary waters or islands of the Snake river shall be in accordance with the wildlife laws of the respective states. Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers shall honor the license of either state and the right of the …

The purpose of RCW 77.75.100 through 77.75.130 is to avoid the conflict, confusion, and difficulty of locating the state boundary in or on the boundary waters and islands of the Snake river. These sections do not allow the holder of a Washington license to fish or hunt on the sho…

The commission may adopt and enforce the provisions of the treaty between the government of the United States and the government of Canada concerning Pacific salmon, treaty document number 99-2, entered into force March 18, 1985, at Quebec City, Canada, and the regulations of the…

The state assents to the act of congress entitled: "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in wildlife restoration projects, and for other purposes," (50 Stat. 917; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 669). The department shall establish and conduct cooperative wildlife restora…

The state assents to the act of congress entitled: "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in fish restoration and management projects, and for other purposes," (64 Stat. 430; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 777). The department shall establish, conduct, and maintain fish r…

(1)(a) The department may purchase commercial fishing vessels and appurtenant gear, and the current state commercial fishing licenses, delivery permits, and charter boat licenses if the license or permit holder was substantially restricted in fishing as a result of compliance wit…

The purchase price of a vessel and appurtenant gear shall be based on a survey conducted by a qualified marine surveyor. A license or delivery permit shall be valued separately. The director may specify a maximum price to be paid for a vessel, gear, license, or delivery permit pu…

The department may arrange for the insurance, storage, and resale or other disposition of vessels and gear purchased under RCW 77.80.020. Vessels shall not be resold by the department to the seller or the seller's immediate family. The vessels shall not be used by any owner or op…

The director shall adopt rules for the administration of this chapter. To assist the department in the administration of this chapter, the director may contract with persons not employed by the state and may enlist the aid of other state agencies. [ 2008 c 252 s 3; 1995 c 269 s 3…

(1) The director is responsible for the administration and disbursement of all funds, goods, commodities, and services received by the state under this chapter. (2) There is created within the state treasury a fund to be known as the "vessel, gear, license, and permit reduction f…

The legislature finds that repeated attempts to improve salmonid fish runs throughout the state of Washington have failed to avert listings of salmon and steelhead runs as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.). These listi…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Adaptive management" means reliance on scientific methods to test the results of actions taken so that the management and related policy can be changed promptly and a…