Notes:

It is unlawful to sell or offer to sell shellfish in this state unless the shellfish bear an approved shellfish tag or label indicating compliance with the sanitary requirements of this state or a state, territory, province, or country of origin whose requirements are equal or comparable to those established pursuant to this chapter. The department, a fish and wildlife officer, or an ex officio fish and wildlife officer may immediately seize containers of shellfish that are not affixed with an approved shellfish tag or label.

[2011 c 194 § 2; 1955 c 144 § 2.]

(1) The state board of health shall adopt rules governing the sanitation of shellfish, shellfish growing areas, and shellfish plant facilities and operations in order to protect public health and carry out the provisions of this chapter. Such rules and regulations may include reasonable sanitary requirements relative to the quality of shellfish growing waters and areas, boat and barge sanitation, building construction, water supply, sewage and waste water disposal, lighting and ventilation, insect and rodent control, shell disposal, garbage and waste disposal, cleanliness of establishment, the handling, storage, construction and maintenance of equipment, the handling, storage and refrigeration of shellfish, the identification of containers, and the handling, maintenance, and storage of permits, certificates, and records regarding shellfish taken under this chapter. The state board of health shall adopt rules governing procedures for the disposition of seized shellfish.

     (2) The state board of health shall consider the most recent version of the national shellfish sanitation program model ordinance, adopted by the interstate shellfish sanitation conference, when adopting rules.

[2011 c 194 § 3; 1995 c 147 § 2; 1955 c 144 § 3.]

(1) It is unlawful for a person to harvest shellfish from shellfish growing areas in a commercial quantity or for sale for human consumption unless the shellfish growing area:

     (a) Has a valid certificate of approval; and

     (b) Meets the requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.

     (2) A person may not remove shellfish in a commercial quantity or for sale for human consumption from a shellfish growing area in the state of Washington unless:

     (a) The person has received a certificate of approval for the shellfish growing area from the department; and

     (b) Approved shellfish tags are affixed to each container of shellstock prior to removal from the shellfish growing area, except bulk tagging is permitted as allowed in the national shellfish sanitation program model ordinance.

     (3) Before issuing a certificate of approval, the department shall inspect the shellfish growing area. The department shall issue a certificate of approval if the area meets the requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.

     (4) A certificate of approval is valid for a period of twelve months. The department may revoke a certificate of approval at any time the area is found out of compliance with the requirements of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter.

     (5) It is unlawful to remove shellfish from shellfish growing areas without a certificate of approval in a commercial quantity for purposes other than human consumption, including but not limited to use as bait or seed, unless:

     (a) The shellfish operation and shellfish growing area is readily available to monitoring and inspections; and

     (b) The department has determined the shellfish operation is designed to ensure that shellfish harvested from such an area is not diverted for human consumption.

     (6) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from removing shellfish for use as bait or seed from an approved shellfish growing area.

     (7) The department's certificate of approval to harvest shellfish for purposes other than human consumption shall specify:

     (a) The date or dates and time of harvest;

     (b) All applicable conditions of harvest;

     (c) Identification by tagging, dying, or other department-approved means; and

     (d) Information about the removal method, transportation method, processing technique, sale details, and other factors to ensure that shellfish harvested from such areas are not diverted for human consumption.

[2011 c 194 § 4; 1995 c 147 § 3; 1985 c 51 § 2; 1955 c 144 § 5.]

(1) It is unlawful for a person to cull, shuck, or pack shellfish in the state of Washington in a commercial quantity or for sale for human consumption unless the establishment in which such operations are conducted has been certified by the department as meeting the requirements of the state board of health.

     (2) A person may not cull, shuck, or pack shellfish within the state of Washington in a commercial quantity or for sale for human consumption, unless the person has received a certificate of approval from the department for the establishment in which such operations will be done.

     (3) Before issuing a certificate of approval, the department shall inspect the establishment, and if the establishment meets the rules of the state board of health, the department shall issue a certificate of approval. Such certificates of approval shall be issued for a period not to exceed twelve months, and may be revoked at any time the establishment or the operations are found not to be in compliance with the rules of the state board of health.

[2011 c 194 § 5; 1985 c 51 § 3; 1955 c 144 § 6.]

(1) The department may deny, revoke, or suspend a person's license or certificate of approval for:

     (a) Violations of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter; or

     (b) Harassing or threatening an authorized representative of the department during the performance of his or her duties.

     (2) RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of a license denial, revocation, suspension, or modification and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding.

[2011 c 194 § 6; 1991 c 3 § 304; 1989 c 175 § 125; 1979 c 141 § 71; 1955 c 144 § 8.]

(1) A person, or its director or officer, whose license or certificate of approval is denied, revoked, or suspended as a result of violations of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter may not:

     (a) Supervise, be employed by, or manage a shellfish operation licensed or certified under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;

     (b) Participate in the harvesting, shucking, packing, or shipping of shellfish in commercial quantities or for sale;

     (c) Participate in the brokering of shellfish, purchase of shellfish for resale, or retail sale of shellfish; or

     (d) Engage in any activity associated with selling or offering to sell shellfish.

     (2) Subsections (1)(c) and (d) of this section do not apply to retail purchases of shellfish for personal use.

     (3) Subsection (1) of this section applies to a person only during the period of time in which that person's license or certificate of approval is denied, revoked, or suspended.

     (4) Unlawful operations under subsection (1) of this section when a license or certificate of approval is denied, revoked, or suspended is a class C felony. Upon conviction, the department shall order that the person's license or certificate of approval be revoked for a period of at least five years, or that a person whose application for a license or certificate of approval was denied be ineligible to reapply for a period of at least five years.

     (5) A license or certificate of approval issued under this chapter may not be assigned or transferred in any manner without department approval.

[2011 c 194 § 7; 1998 c 44 § 1.]

(1) It is unlawful for any person to possess a commercial quantity of shellfish or to sell or offer to sell shellfish in the state which have not been grown, shucked, packed, or shipped in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Failure of a shellfish grower to display a certificate of approval, or department-approved equivalent, issued under RCW 69.30.050 to an authorized representative of the department, a fish and wildlife officer, or an ex officio fish and wildlife officer subjects the grower to the penalty provisions of this chapter, as well as seizure and disposition, up to and including disposal, of the shellfish by the representative or officer.

     (2) Failure of a shellfish processor to display a certificate of approval issued under RCW 69.30.060 to an authorized representative of the department, a fish and wildlife officer, or an ex officio fish and wildlife officer subjects the processor to the penalty provisions of this chapter, as well as seizure and disposition, up to and including disposal, of the shellfish by the representative or officer.

[2011 c 194 § 8; 2001 c 253 § 6; 1995 c 147 § 4; 1985 c 51 § 4; 1979 c 141 § 74; 1955 c 144 § 11.]

Except as provided in RCW 69.30.085(4), any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. A conviction is an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the defendant's appearance in court, the payment of a fine, a plea of guilty, or a finding of guilt on a violation of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter, regardless of whether imposition of sentence is deferred or the penalty is suspended, and shall be treated as a conviction for purposes of license revocation and suspension of privileges under *RCW 77.15.700(5).

[2011 c 194 § 9; 2001 c 253 § 7; 1995 c 147 § 6; 1985 c 51 § 6; 1955 c 144 § 14.]