DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

(1) Based upon RCW 15.85.020(3), the following shellfish are distinguished from private sector cultured aquatic products and are identified as wild stocks that are regulated under this chapter:

(a) All clams, mussels, or oysters that were not propagated, farmed, or cultivated under the active supervision and management of a private sector aquatic farmer; and

(b) All clams, mussels, or oysters that were set naturally prior to the time an aquatic farm was established and placed under the active supervision and management of a private sector aquatic farmer.

(2) Examples of harvested wild stocks of shellfish include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Any harvest of clams, mussels, or oysters from a site that is not registered as an aquatic farm unless there is some ability to demonstrate that the shellfish was propagated, farmed, or cultivated under the active supervision of an aquatic farmer;

(b) Any harvest of clams, mussels, or oysters that were naturally set prior to the time an aquatic farm was established at the site and placed under the active supervision and management of an aquatic farmer; and

(c) Shellfish that is harvested from a newly registered aquatic farm during a period when the shellfish is presumed to come from a wild stock as specified in subsection (5) of this section.

(3) ((The sale of)) It is unlawful to sell wild stocks of clams, mussels, and oysters ((must be)) unless properly reported ((through the use of)) on a shellfish receiving ticket((s)). The failure to report the sale of shellfish with a fish receiving ticket when it is required is unlawful activity and constitutes a violation of WAC 220-352-020 and RCW 77.15.630. Any person selling wild stocks of clams, mussels, and oysters must sell the harvest to a ((licensed)) Washington wholesale fish ((dealer)) buyer, who is then required to complete the fish ticket. Alternatively, if the person harvesting the clams, mussels, or oysters sells this shellfish at retail or arranges for the harvested shellfish to be transported out-of-state, they must be a ((licensed)) wholesale ((dealer)) fish buyer and must complete a fish receiving ticket for each day's sales or for each shipment.

(4) Wild stock sales may not be reported on aquatic farm quarterly production reports. Only private sector cultured aquatic products may be reported on quarterly production reports.

(5) The following shellfish are presumed to be wild shellfish that are subject to these regulations:

(a) All mussels, oysters, and clams other than geoducks that are commercially harvested from the nonstate lands within the first twelve months after a complete application for the aquatic farm registration is filed; and

(b) All geoducks commercially harvested from the nonstate lands within the first thirty-six months after a complete application for the aquatic farm registration is filed.

The presumption that shellfish harvested from a newly registered aquatic farm during these time periods are from wild stocks may be overcome by a showing that the harvested shellfish were actually propagated, farmed, or cultivated under the active supervision of an aquatic farmer. After twelve or thirty-six months, respectively, all shellfish produced from a registered aquatic farm will be presumed to be private sector cultured aquatic products, and must be reported on quarterly aquatic farm reports. If a person does not commercially harvest mussels, oysters, or clams other than geoducks for the first twelve months after the aquatic farm registration, or does not commercially harvest geoducks for the first thirty-six months after registration, there is no requirement to obtain an emerging commercial fishery license or trial fishery permit.