Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE

(1) The department shall maintain a report identifying total salmon and steelhead harvest. This report shall include the final commercial harvests and recreational harvests. At a minimum, the report shall clearly identify:(a) The total treaty tribal and nontribal harvests by spec…

(1) The department shall establish a program that utilizes department-partner agreements for the resumption or continued operation and management of state-owned salmonid hatcheries that are located in the Hood Canal basin. To implement the program, the department shall accept and…

The powers and authority conferred by this chapter must be construed as in addition and supplemental to powers or authority conferred by any other law and nothing contained in this chapter may be construed as limiting any other powers or authority of the department.[ 2009 c 340 s…

The department may contract with cities and counties to assist in the identification and removal of impediments to fish passage.[ 2014 c 120 s 6.]

(1) The Washington state department of transportation and every county, city, and town may accept any money or property donated, devised, or bequeathed to it that is donated for the purpose of fish barrier removal. The Washington state department of transportation and local gover…

The fish and wildlife resources of the state benefit by the contribution of volunteer recreational and commercial fishing organizations, schools, and other volunteer groups in cooperative projects under agreement with the department. These projects provide educational opportuniti…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Volunteer group" means any person or group of persons interested in or party to an agreement with the department relating to a cooperative fish or wildlife project.(2…

The department shall encourage and support the development and operation of cooperative projects of the following types:(1) Cooperative food fish and game fish rearing projects, including but not limited to egg planting, egg boxes, juvenile planting, pen rearing, pond rearing, ra…

The department may authorize the sale of surplus salmon eggs and carcasses by permitted cooperative projects for the purposes of defraying the expenses of the cooperative project. In no instance shall the department allow a profit to be realized through such sales. The department…

(1) The department shall:(a) Encourage and support the establishment of cooperative agreements for the development and operation of cooperative food fish, shellfish, game fish, game bird, game animal, and nongame wildlife projects, and projects which provide an opportunity for vo…

The commission shall establish by rule:(1) The procedure for entering a cooperative agreement and the application forms for a permit to release fish or wildlife required by *RCW 77.12.457. The procedure shall indicate the information required from the volunteer group as well as t…

Agreements under this chapter may be for up to five years, with the department attempting to maximize the duration of each cooperative agreement. The duration of the agreement should reflect the financial and volunteer commitment and the stability of the volunteer group as well a…

(1) The volunteer group shall:(a) Provide care and diligence in conducting the cooperative project; and(b) Maintain accurately the required records of the project on forms provided by the department.(2) The volunteer group shall acknowledge that fish and game reared in cooperativ…

This chapter applies to cooperative projects which were in existence on June 7, 1984, or which require no further funding. Implementation of this chapter for new projects requiring funding shall be to the extent that funds are available from the aquatic land enhancement account.[…

A salmon spawning channel shall be constructed on the Cedar river with the assistance and cooperation of the department. The department shall use existing personnel and the volunteer fisheries enhancement program outlined under chapter 77.100 RCW to assist in the planning, constr…

The department shall chair a technical committee, which shall review the preparation of enhancement plans and construction designs for a Cedar river sockeye spawning channel. The technical committee shall consist of not more than eight members: One representative each from the de…

The channel shall be designed to produce, at a minimum, fry comparable in quality to those produced in the Cedar river and equal in number to what could be produced naturally by the estimated two hundred sixty-two thousand adults that could have spawned upstream of the Landsburg …

The legislature recognizes that, if funding for planning, design, evaluation, construction, and operating expenses is provided by a public utility that diverts water for beneficial public use, and if the performance of the spawning channel meets the production goals described in …

The legislature hereby declares that the construction of the Cedar river sockeye spawning channel is in the best interests of the state of Washington.[ 1989 c 85 s 9. Formerly RCW 75.52.150.]Notes:Project designation—Legislative finding—Severability—1989 c 85: See notes following…

Should the requirements of RCW 77.100.100 through 77.100.160 not be met, the department shall seek immediate legal clarification of the steps which must be taken to fully mitigate water diversion projects on the Cedar river.[ 2000 c 107 s 118; 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 54; 1989 c 85 s 10.…

The manager of a state fish hatchery operated by the department of fish and wildlife may allow nonprofit volunteer groups affiliated with the hatchery to undertake projects to raise donations, gifts, and grants that enhance support for the hatchery or activities in the surroundin…

(1) The legislature finds the sheltered waters of Puget Sound (waters east of the Sekiu river) have historically provided the citizens of the state with the safest and most convenient access to productive marine recreational fishing.(2) The legislature further recognizes the econ…

There is created within the department of fish and wildlife the Puget Sound recreational salmon and marine fish enhancement program. The department of fish and wildlife shall identify a coordinator for the program who shall act as spokesperson for the program and shall:(1) Coordi…

(1) Consistent with available revenue, commission policies, tribal comanager agreements, and limitations of the endangered species act, the department, in consultation with the oversight committee created in RCW 77.105.160, shall adaptively manage the Puget Sound recreational sal…

The department may seek recommendations from persons who are expert on the planning and operation of programs for enhancement of recreational fisheries. The department may use the expertise of the University of Washington school of aquatic and fishery sciences and the sea grant p…

The department may conduct research, develop methods, and implement programs for the artificial rearing and release of marine bottomfish species. Marine bottomfish species of importance in the recreational fishery are the primary emphasis. The department may use artificial habita…

As provided in RCW 77.32.440, a portion of each saltwater and combination fishing license fee shall be deposited in the recreational fisheries enhancement account created in RCW 77.105.150.[ 2000 c 107 s 119; 1998 c 191 s 28; 1997 c 197 s 1; 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 97. Formerly RCW 75.5…

The recreational fisheries enhancement account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW 77.105.140 shall be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for recreational fish…

(1) The Puget Sound recreational fisheries enhancement oversight committee is created. The director shall appoint at least seven members representing sport fishing interests to the committee from a list of applicants, ensuring broad representation from the sport fishing community…

The department shall utilize artificial rearing of salmon to improve recreational salmon fishing in Puget Sound. In managing salmon, the department shall seek to develop and implement methods that will increase recreational angling opportunities. These methods may include, but ar…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2554.SL) ***The people of the state of Washington declare that an emergency exists in the management of salmon and steelhead trout resources such that both are in great peril. An immediate resolution of this crisis is essential to perpetuating and enha…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2554.SL) ***The people of the state of Washington petition the United States Congress to immediately make the steelhead trout a national game fish protected under the Black Bass Act.[ 1985 c 1 s 2 (Initiative Measure No. 456, approved November 6, 1984)…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2554.SL) ***The people of the state of Washington declare that conservation, enhancement, and proper utilization of the state's natural resources, including but not limited to lands, waters, timber, fish, and game are responsibilities of the state of W…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2554.SL) ***The people of the state of Washington declare that under the Indians Citizens Act of 1924, all Indians became citizens of the United States and subject to the Constitution and laws of the United States and state in which they reside. The pe…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2554.SL) ***The secretary of state shall transmit copies of this act to the president of the United States senate, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, and each member of congress.[ 1985 c 1 s 5 (Initiative Measure No. 456, approv…

(1) The director of agriculture and the director shall jointly develop a program of disease inspection and control for aquatic farmers as defined in RCW 15.85.020. The program shall be administered by the department under rules established under this section. The purpose of the p…

(1) The director shall consult regarding the disease inspection and control program established under RCW 77.115.010 with federal agencies and Indian tribes to assure protection of state, federal, and tribal aquatic resources and to protect private sector cultured aquatic product…

(1) All aquatic farmers, as defined in RCW 15.85.020, shall register with the department. The application fee is one hundred five dollars. The director shall assign each aquatic farm a unique registration number and develop and maintain in an electronic database a registration li…

The legislature finds that some nonindigenous species have the potential to cause economic and environmental damage to the state and that current efforts to stop the introduction of nonindigenous species from shipping vessels do not adequately reduce the risk of new introductions…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Ballast tank" means any tank or hold on a vessel used for carrying ballast water, whether or not the tank or hold was designed for that purpose.(2) "Ballast water" mea…

(1) This chapter applies to all vessels transiting into the waters of the state from a voyage, except:(a) A vessel of the United States department of defense or United States coast guard subject to the requirements of section 1103 of the national invasive species act of 1996, or …

(1) The owner or operator in charge of any vessel covered by this chapter is required to ensure that the vessel under their ownership or control does not discharge ballast water into the waters of the state except as authorized by this section.(2) Discharge of ballast water into …

The owner or operator in charge of any vessel covered by this chapter is required to ensure that the vessel under their ownership or control complies with the reporting and sampling requirements of this section.(1) Vessels covered by this chapter must report ballast water managem…

The shipping vessel industry, the public ports, and the department shall promote the creation of a pilot project to establish a private sector ballast water treatment operation that is capable of servicing vessels at all Washington ports. Federal and state agencies and private in…

(1) The department may establish by rule schedules for any penalty allowed in this chapter. The schedules may provide for the incremental assessment of a penalty based on criteria established by rule.(2) The director or the director's designee may impose a civil penalty or warnin…

The department may assess a fee for any exemptions allowed under this chapter. Such a fee may not exceed five thousand dollars. The department may establish by rule schedules for any fee allowed in this chapter. The schedules may provide for the incremental assessment of a penalt…

(1) The ballast water and biofouling management account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from legislative appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, penalties, and fees received under this chapter must be deposited into the account.(2) Expenditures from the account m…

The department may issue a special operating authorization for passenger vessels conducting or assisting in research and testing activities to determine the presence of invasive species in ballast water collected in the waters of southeast Alaska north of latitude fifty-four degr…

The department may enter into partnerships, contracts, or any other form of agreements with other entities to carry out the intent of this chapter. The department shall ensure that any such entity is registered and licensed to do business in Washington. All agreements must be con…

(1) The owner or operator of a vessel covered by this chapter is required to ensure that the vessel under their ownership or control does not release biofouling into waters of the state except as authorized by this section.(2) The department may adopt by rule standards and requir…