Chapter 220-353 WAC
Last Update: 3/15/23COMMERCIAL FISHERIES—GENERAL COMMERCIAL FISHERY RULES
WAC Sections
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-010 | General rules—Commercial fishery. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-020 | General gear rules—Commercial fishery. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-030 | General provisions—Lawful and unlawful acts—Food fish other than salmon. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-040 | Gaffing and use of other body-penetrating devices—Commercial. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-050 | Possession of food fish and shellfish—Identification—Commercial. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-060 | Possession of a net aboard a vessel—Commercial fishery. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-070 | Placing commercial gear in closed waters—Unlawful. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-080 | Testing commercial fishing gear. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-090 | Unlawful sale of food fish and shellfish. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-100 | Unlawful possession and sale of unclassified marine invertebrates. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-110 | Sale of commercially caught sturgeon, bottomfish and halibut. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-120 | Requirement to provide sales documents. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-130 | Live fish—Import and transfer. |
| HTMLPDF | 220-353-140 | Salmon angling unlawful from commercial vessels. |
PDF220-353-010
General rules—Commercial fishery.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to possess any food fish or shellfish within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington, except in areas open to commercial fishing or where the possession of salmon or other food fish or shellfish for commercial purposes is permissible under state law or department rule.
(2) It is permissible to fish for, possess, process, and otherwise deal in food fish and fish offal or scrap for any purpose, except it is unlawful to use any of the following listed species for purposes other than human consumption or fishing bait:
Pacific halibut | (Hippoglossus stenolepis) |
Pacific herring (except as prescribed in WAC 220-356-110) | (Clupea harengus pallasi) |
(Engraulis mordax) | |
Salmon | |
Chinook | (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) |
Coho | (Oncorhynchus kisutch) |
Chum | (Oncorhynchus keta) |
Pink | (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) |
Sockeye | (Oncorhynchus nerka) |
Masu | (Oncorhynchus masu) |
Sardine | (Sardinops sagax) |
(3) Violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.550, Violation of commercial fishing area or time—Penalty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-353-010, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-118, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-020
General gear rules—Commercial fishery.
(1)(a) Commercial shellfish pot, bottom fish pot, set line and set net gear must be marked with a buoy that bears the department approved and registered buoy brand issued to the license in a visible and legible manner. It is unlawful for the owner or operator of any commercial food fish or shellfish gear to leave the gear unattended in state or offshore waters unless the gear is marked. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.520 or 77.15.522, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
(b) Exemptions may apply for commercial shellfish pot gear otherwise authorized for use by permit issued by the director.
(2) Violations of the following are punishable under 77.15.520, Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or methods—Penalty:
(a) Buoys affixed to unattended commercial food fish or shellfish gear must be visible on the surface of the water except during strong tidal flow, extreme weather conditions, or as authorized by permit issued by the director.
(b) It is unlawful to operate any gill net unless there is a buoy, float, or other marker affixed within 5 feet of each end of the net and visible on the cork line. The buoy, float, or other marker must be labeled legibly and permanently with the name and gill-net license number of the owner of the net.
(c) It is unlawful to leave a gill net unattended at any time in the commercial salmon fishery.
(d) It is unlawful to allow salmon, sturgeon, or fish unlawful to retain that are entangled in commercial nets to pass through a power block or onto a power reel or drum.
(3) It is unlawful for any person who loses or abandons non-tribal commercial net fishing gear within the waters of the state to fail to:
(a) Contact the department of fish and wildlife within twenty-four hours of the loss, by phone at 855-542-3935, or online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/derelict/; and
(b) Provide the following required information:
(i) Type of gear;
(ii) General location of the gear;
(iii) Latitude (if known) of the gear;
(iv) Longitude (if known) of the gear;
(v) Estimated water depth where the gear is located;
(vi) Date the gear was lost;
(vii) Time the gear was lost;
(viii) Name of gear's owner;
(ix) Telephone number of the gear's owner; and
(x) Email address (if available) of the gear's owner.
(c) Failing to report lost or abandoned nontribal commercial net gear under this subsection is an infraction under RCW 77.15.160.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 21-24-031 (Order 21-259), § 220-353-020, filed 11/22/21, effective 1/1/22. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-020, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-119, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-030
General provisions—Lawful and unlawful acts—Food fish other than salmon.
(1) It is unlawful to fish for or possess for commercial purposes any round, undressed sturgeon less than 43 inches in fork length or greater than 54 inches in fork length.
(2) It is unlawful to fish for, possess, or retain green sturgeon taken with commercial gear. Any green sturgeon taken with any type of commercial gear incidental to a lawful fishery shall immediately be returned to the water unharmed.
(3) It is unlawful to fish for or possess for commercial purposes or possess aboard a commercial fishing vessel for any purpose any species of halibut (Hippoglossus) unless permitted by the current regulations of the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
(4) It is unlawful to fish for or possess for commercial purposes sturgeon taken from any of the waters of Puget Sound or tributaries. Any sturgeon taken with any type of commercial gear incidental to a lawful fishery shall immediately be returned to the water unharmed.
(5) It is unlawful to fish for food fish for commercial purposes in the waters of Shilshole Bay, inland and inside a line projected in a southwesterly direction from Meadow Point to West Point.
(6) It is unlawful to fish for or possess for commercial purposes any starry flounder less than 14 inches in length taken by any commercial gear, in all Puget Sound Marine Fish-Shellfish Areas.
(7) It is unlawful to harvest herring eggs naturally deposited on marine vegetation or other substrate unless a person has a permit issued by the director.
(8) It is unlawful to fish for or possess carp taken for commercial purposes except as authorized by written permit from the director. However, carp taken incidental to a commercial fishery for other species may be retained for commercial purposes. Failure to comply with the provisions of the carp permit constitutes unlawful use of the carp commercial fishery license and may result in revocation of the carp permit.
(9) It is unlawful to fin sharks in Washington state waters, and it is unlawful to possess shark fins in the field unless the carcass of the shark is retained. However, once a commercially taken shark carcass has been delivered to a wholesale fish buyer, and the sale of the shark has been recorded on a fish receiving ticket, the shark fins need not be retained with the shark carcass.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.090, 77.04.130, 77.15.568, 77.08.010, 77.65.510, 77.65.515, and 77.65.520. WSR 17-22-100, § 220-353-030, filed 10/30/17, effective 1/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-030, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020. WSR 09-18-070 (Order 09-187), § 220-20-020, filed 8/28/09, effective 9/28/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-02-050 (Order 06-301), § 220-20-020, filed 12/27/06, effective 1/27/07; WSR 06-13-024 (Order 06-134), § 220-20-020, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06; WSR 06-07-045 (Order 06-39), § 220-20-020, filed 3/9/06, effective 4/9/06; WSR 02-23-002 (Order 02-278), § 220-20-020, filed 11/6/02, effective 12/7/02; WSR 02-02-049 (Order 01-286), § 220-20-020, filed 12/27/01, effective 1/27/02; WSR 00-17-106 (Order 00-149), § 220-20-020, filed 8/16/00, effective 9/16/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 00-01-103 (Order 99-215), § 220-20-020, filed 12/16/99, effective 1/16/00; WSR 98-15-031 (Order 98-120), § 220-20-020, filed 7/7/98, effective 8/7/98; WSR 97-07-043 (Order 97-51), § 220-20-020, filed 3/14/97, effective 4/14/97; WSR 95-23-020 (Order 95-166), § 220-20-020, filed 11/8/95, effective 12/9/95; WSR 93-14-042 (Order 93-54), § 220-20-020, filed 6/29/93, effective 7/30/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.28.245. WSR 90-07-003 (Order 90-17), § 220-20-020, filed 3/8/90, effective 4/8/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 90-06-045 (Order 90-15), § 220-20-020, filed 3/1/90, effective 4/1/90; WSR 80-09-072 (Order 80-69), § 220-20-020, filed 7/18/80; WSR 79-03-014 (Order 79-11), § 220-20-020, filed 2/15/79; Order 77-147, § 220-20-020, filed 12/16/77; Order 77-14, § 220-20-020, filed 4/15/77; Order 76-148, § 220-20-020, filed 12/2/76; Order 76-26, § 220-20-020, filed 4/20/76; Order 1193-A, § 220-20-020, filed 3/5/75; Order 1193, § 220-20-020, filed 3/4/75; Order 1143, § 220-20-020, filed 8/8/74; Order 1105, § 220-20-020, filed 12/28/73; Order 1057, § 220-20-020, filed 5/22/73; Order 1045, § 220-20-020, filed 3/8/73; Order 988, § 220-20-020, filed 4/28/72; Order 920, § 220-20-020, filed 5/13/71; Order 862, § 220-20-020, filed 4/16/70; Order 817, § 220-20-020, filed 5/29/69; Order 810, § 220-20-020, filed 4/17/69.]
PDF220-353-040
Gaffing and use of other body-penetrating devices—Commercial.
(1) It is unlawful to club, gaff, snag, snare, dip net, harass, spear, stone, or otherwise molest, injure, kill, destroy, or shoot with a firearm, crossbow, bow and arrow, or compressed air gun, any fish or shellfish or parts of fish or shellfish for commercial purposes, except: It is permissible to use a dip net, gaff, or club in the landing of food fish or shellfish. However, it is unlawful to use a fish pew, pitchfork, or any other instrument that penetrates the body of the fish or shellfish if the fish or shellfish will not be retained or are unlawful to possess.
(2) It is unlawful to possess fish or shellfish or parts of fish or shellfish taken using the unlawful methods described in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) It is unlawful under any circumstance to use a device that penetrates the body of a sturgeon whether the sturgeon is legal to retain or not.
(4) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable under RCW 77.15.520 Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or methods—Penalty.
(5) It is unlawful to attempt acts that violate this section. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.382, Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree—Penalty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-040, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-126, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-050
Possession of food fish and shellfish—Identification—Commercial.
(1) It is unlawful to possess any food fish or shellfish in a condition where the species, length, weight, or sex cannot be determined if a species, species group or category, length, weight, or sex limit is prescribed for that species on a vessel engaging in commercial fishing or that has commercially caught fish aboard, except:
(a) It is permissible to possess fish or shellfish legally taken for commercial purposes, landed, and properly accounted for on a completed fish receiving ticket;
(b) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the state, or land dressed sablefish;
(c) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed salmon caught during a legal commercial salmon troll fishery, provided that frozen dressed Chinook salmon are 21 1/2 inches or more in length and frozen dressed coho salmon are 12 inches or more in length, measured from the midpoint of the clavicle arch to the fork of the tail;
(d) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed halibut if allowed by International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) rules and such fish meet any IPHC size requirements so long as halibut is landed with the heads still attached;
(e) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed lingcod when taken during a lawful commercial fishery; and
(f) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed rockfish if authorized by a permit issued by the director and in accordance with the permit's terms and conditions.
(2) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 77.15.550, Violation of commercial fishing area or time—Penalty.
(3) "Dressed fish" is defined as provided in WAC 220-350-050.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 23-07-087 (Order 23-43), § 220-353-050, filed 3/15/23, effective 4/15/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-353-050, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-121, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-060
Possession of a net aboard a vessel—Commercial fishery.
(1) It is unlawful in any area to use, operate, or carry aboard a commercial fishing vessel a licensed net or combination of such nets, whether fished singly or separately, in excess of the maximum size or length permissible for a single net in that area, except as otherwise provided by department rule.
(2) Violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.520, Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or methods—Penalty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-060, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-122, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-070
Placing commercial gear in closed waters—Unlawful.
(1) It is unlawful to place any commercial food fish or shellfish gear in any waters closed to commercial fishing, except reef nets, brush weirs, or gear tested in accordance with WAC 220-353-080 and under department supervision.
(2) It is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess food fish with any type of commercial fishing gear in the waters of Carr Inlet north of north latitude 47°20', from August 15 through November 30, except as provided in chapter 220-354 WAC.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-353-070, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-124, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-080
Testing commercial fishing gear.
(1) It is unlawful to test commercial fishing gear, except as follows:
(a) Bellingham Bay - Inside and northerly of a line from Governor's Point to the south tip of Eliza Island to Point Frances, in waters 10 fathoms and deeper.
(b) Boundary Bay - North of a line from Birch Point to Point Roberts, and south of the international boundary, in waters 10 fathoms and deeper during times not under control of the Pacific Salmon Commission.
(c) San Juan Channel - Within a 1-mile radius of Point Caution during times not under control of the Pacific Salmon Commission.
(d) Port Angeles - Inside and westerly of a line projected from the east tip of Ediz Hook through buoy C "1" to the mainland.
(e) Port Gardner - Within a 2-mile radius of the entrance to Everett breakwater, in waters 10 fathoms and deeper.
(f) Central Puget Sound - Between lines from Meadow Point to Point Monroe, and Skiff Point to West Point, in waters 50 fathoms and deeper.
(g) East Pass - Between lines from Point Robinson true east to the mainland, and from Dash Point to Point Piner, in waters 50 fathoms and deeper.
(h) Port Townsend - Westerly of a line from the Coast Guard station in Port Townsend to Walan Point to Kala Point, in waters 10 fathoms and deeper.
(i) All tows or sets are limited to 20 minutes, exclusive of setting and retrieving time.
(j) All testing must only occur between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(k) Cod ends of trawl nets must be left open, all hooks of set line gear must be unbaited, and no lures or baited hooks may be used with jig or troll gear.
(l) All incidentally caught fish and shellfish must be returned to the waters immediately. It is unlawful to retain fish or shellfish aboard the vessel at any time during a gear test operation.
(2) It is unlawful for any person conducting gear testing operations to fail to notify fish and wildlife enforcement in Olympia at 360-902-2936 prior to testing.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-080, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-123, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]
PDF220-353-090
Unlawful sale of food fish and shellfish.
In order to prevent the sale of food fish or shellfish taken under personal-use fishing regulations, it shall be unlawful to sell, or offer for sale or purchase, or offer to purchase, any food fish or shellfish unless taken with lawful commercial gear, in an area open to commercial fishing for that species, and the fisherman has in his possession at the time of sale a valid commercial fishing license.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-090, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 81-02-053 (Order 81-3), § 220-20-012, filed 1/7/81; WSR 79-11-069 (Order 79-111), § 220-20-012, filed 10/18/79.]
PDF220-353-100
Unlawful possession and sale of unclassified marine invertebrates.
(1) It is unlawful to deliver krill taken for commercial purposes from state or offshore waters into Washington state, and it is unlawful to possess krill taken for commercial purposes. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.240.
(2) It is unlawful to traffic in krill. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.260.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-353-100, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 05-01-132 (Order 04-320), § 220-20-013, filed 12/16/04, effective 1/16/05.]
PDF220-353-110
Sale of commercially caught sturgeon, bottomfish and halibut.
(1) It is unlawful for any person while engaged in commercial fishing for sturgeon, bottomfish or halibut to:
(a) Keep sturgeon smaller or greater than the size limits provided for in WAC 220-353-030, keep more than one sturgeon for personal use, or keep more than the equivalent of one daily limit of sport caught bottomfish for personal use. Any lingcod to be retained for personal use taken east of the mouth of the Sekiu River must be greater than 26 inches in length and may not exceed 40 inches in length. All commercially taken sturgeon, bottomfish, and halibut retained for personal use must be recorded on fish receiving tickets.
(b) Sell any sturgeon, bottomfish, or halibut taken under such license to anyone other than a wholesale fish buyer within or outside the state of Washington may sell to individuals or corporations other than licensed fish dealers.
(c) Remove from the body cavity of the sturgeon any eggs or roe prior to the time the sturgeon is sold to a wholesale fish buyer.
(2) It is unlawful for any wholesale fish buyer to purchase or attempt to purchase sturgeon eggs from sturgeon taken by any person licensed to take sturgeon for commercial purposes under chapter 77.65 RCW if the sturgeon eggs have been removed from the body cavity of the sturgeon prior to the sale of the sturgeon.
(3) It is unlawful to purchase, sell, barter or attempt to purchase, sell, or barter any sturgeon eggs taken from sturgeon caught in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam.
(4) It is unlawful to remove either the head or tail from a sturgeon prior to the time the sturgeon is sold to a wholesale dealer licensed under RCW 77.65.280 and delivered to a fish processing plant.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.090, 77.04.130, 77.15.568, 77.08.010, 77.65.510, 77.65.515, and 77.65.520. WSR 17-22-100, § 220-353-110, filed 10/30/17, effective 1/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-353-110, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-21-128 (Order 07-266), § 220-20-021, filed 10/23/07, effective 11/23/07; WSR 07-04-030, § 220-20-021, filed 1/29/07, effective 3/1/07; WSR 06-05-094 (Order 06-24), § 220-20-021, filed 2/14/06, effective 3/17/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 97-07-043 (Order 97-51), § 220-20-021, filed 3/14/97, effective 4/14/97; WSR 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-20-021, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; WSR 85-08-023 (Order 85-24), § 220-20-021, filed 4/1/85; WSR 82-17-040 (Order 82-105), § 220-20-021, filed 8/13/82.]
PDF220-353-120
Requirement to provide sales documents.
It is unlawful for anyone acting in the capacity of a wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller to fail to submit for inspection any state of Washington fish receiving tickets or sales documents upon demand of a fish and wildlife officer. Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable under RCW 77.15.640 (1)(d).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.090, 77.04.130, 77.15.568, 77.08.010, 77.65.510, 77.65.515, and 77.65.520. WSR 17-22-100, § 220-353-120, filed 10/30/17, effective 1/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-120, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020. WSR 08-21-019 (Order 08-260), § 220-20-019, filed 10/6/08, effective 11/6/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 82-17-040 (Order 82-105), § 220-20-019, filed 8/13/82.]
PDF220-353-130
Live fish—Import and transfer.
(1) It is unlawful for any person, group, corporation, association, or government entity to import into, transport, transfer, sell, or possess within the state of Washington live fish and/or the viable sexual products of fish without first obtaining a permit to do so from the director. The only exceptions to the permit requirement are for aquarium fish, game fish, indigenous marine baitfish, indigenous hagfish species and mosquito fish (genus Gambusia). The exception for mosquito fish applies only when used by agencies authorized by chapter 17.28 RCW. The permit must accompany the fish and/or sexual products at all times within the state of Washington and must be presented to department employees on demand.
(2) For any permit issued under subsection (1) of this section, the director may impose conditions as necessary to ensure the protection of food fish populations from infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases and pests.
(3) It is unlawful to violate the terms and conditions imposed on any permit issued under subsection (1) of this section. In addition to penalties provided by law, violation of the permit terms and conditions may result in the suspension and/or revocation of the permit.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-353-130, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 15-02-011 (Order 14-341), § 220-20-039, filed 12/26/14, effective 1/26/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-02-043 (Order 12-290), § 220-20-039, filed 12/21/12, effective 1/21/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 82-17-040 (Order 82-105), § 220-20-039, filed 8/13/82.]
PDF220-353-140
Salmon angling unlawful from commercial vessels.
It shall be unlawful to take, fish for or possess salmon for personal use by angling from any vessel engaged in any type of commercial fishing or having commercially caught food fish aboard.