PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-17-025.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The subject of this proposed rule making is updating, reorganizing, clarifying, and streamlining WAC 220-20-010 General provisions -- Lawful and unlawful acts -- Salmon, other fish and shellfish, as well as adding provisions for derelict fishing gear and making a technical change due to previous rule changes relating to northern pike.
Hearing Location(s): Natural Resources Building, First Floor, Room 172, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, on December 14, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: On or after January 11, 2013.
Submit Written Comments to: Joanna Eide, Enforcement Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501, e-mail Joanna.Eide@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2155, by December 7, 2012.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Tami Lininger by November 30, 2012, TTY (800) 833-6388 or (360) 902-2267.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This proposed rule making is to streamline, reorganize, and update WAC 220-20-010, and adds provisions for derelict fishing gear reporting. The project also makes a technical change due to previous rule makings relating to northern pike and splits a large, general rule into more manageable and logical sections. This proposed rule making is part of a larger effort to reorganize and update the agency's administrative code.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) needs the changes to WAC 220-20-010 to increase efficiency, functionality, and clarity of the rules within WDFW's administrative code. The changes promote increases in conservation and availability of resources, as well as provide penalties for failure to report lost fishing gear, which can jeopardize resources, habitat, and access to harvest. The proposal is part of WDFW's WAC overhaul project to streamline, update, and reorganize WDFW's administrative code.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.045 and 77.12.047.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: WDFW, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Joanna Eide, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-2403; Implementation: Deputy Chief Mike Cenci, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-2938; and Enforcement: Chief Bruce Bjork, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-2373.
A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
2. Kinds of Professional Services That a Small Business Is Likely to Need in Order to Comply with Such Requirements: There are no professional service requirements for a small business to comply with the proposed reporting requirements.
3. Costs of Compliance for Businesses, Including Costs of Equipment, Supplies, Labor, and Increased Administrative Costs: The costs of compliance with the new reporting provisions may be in employee/owner working time, but any costs will be negligible as reporting will take only a small amount of time.
4. Will Compliance with the Rule Cause Businesses to Lose Sales or Revenue? No, compliance with the new reporting requirements for lost or abandoned gear will not cause businesses to lose sales or revenue. However, noncompliance results in a rule violation and is punishable as an infraction under RCW 77.15.160, which carries a monetary penalty.
5. Cost of Compliance for the Ten Percent of Businesses That Are the Largest Businesses Required to Comply with the Proposed Rules, Using One or More of the Following as a Basis for Comparing Costs:
1. Cost per employee;
2. Cost per hour of labor; or
3. Cost per one hundred dollars of sales.
The costs of compliance with the new reporting provisions may be in employee/owner time, but any costs will be negligible as reporting will take only a small amount of time. Further, any costs associated with compliance with the proposed reporting requirements are not definite as commercial fishers will only incur costs for reporting if they lose or abandon commercial net gear or fail to report lost or abandoned gear.
6. Steps Taken by the Agency to Reduce the Costs of the Rule on Small Businesses, or Reasonable Justification for Not Doing So: The costs of compliance with the new reporting provisions are negligible and it is not possible to reduce potential costs any further.
7. A Description of How the Agency Will Involve Small Businesses in the Development of the Rule: WDFW discussed the proposed reporting requirements with current commercial license holders. Further, WDFW sent out a letter notifying commercial fishers of the proposed reporting requirements and provided notice of the scheduled public hearing date.
8. A List of Industries That Will Be Required to Comply with the Rule: License holders wishing to participate in the commercial net fishery will be required to comply with the rule should the commercial fishers lose or abandon commercial fishing nets within the waters of the state of Washington.
A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Joanna Eide, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501, phone (360) 902-2403, fax (360) 902-2155, e-mail Joanna.Eide@dfw.wa.gov.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These proposals do not involve hydraulics.
October 23, 2012
Joanna M. Eide
Administrative Regulations Analyst
OTS-5095.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 10-33, filed 3/2/10,
effective 4/2/10)
WAC 220-20-010
General ((provisions -- Lawful and unlawful
acts -- Salmon, other fish and shellfish)) rules -- Fish.
(1) It
((shall be)) is unlawful to take, fish for, possess or
transport ((for any purpose)) fish, shellfish, or fish or
shellfish parts ((thereof)), in or from any ((of the)) waters
or land ((over which)) within the jurisdiction of the state of
Washington ((has jurisdiction)), or from the waters of the
Pacific Ocean, except ((at the times, places and in the
manners and for the species, quantities, sizes or sexes
provided for in the regulations of the)) as provided by
department rule.
(((2) It shall be unlawful for any person to have in
possession or under control or custody any food fish or
shellfish within the land or water boundaries of the state of
Washington, except in those areas which are open to commercial
fishing or wherein the possession, control or custody of
salmon or other food fish or shellfish for commercial purposes
is made lawful under a statute of the state of Washington or
the rules and regulations of the commission or director,
unless otherwise provided.
(3) A person may fish for, possess, process and otherwise deal in food fish and fish offal or scrap for any purpose, provided that it shall be unlawful to use any of the following listed species for purposes other than human consumption or fishing bait:
| (( |
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(except as prescribed in WAC 220-49-020) |
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(3) It is unlawful for the owner or operator of any fishing gear to refuse to submit to inspection of the gear in any manner specified by a fish and wildlife officer. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.470.
(4) It ((shall be)) is unlawful for any person to fish
for fish or shellfish while in possession in the field of fish
or shellfish that are in violation of the ((harvest
regulations)) rules for the area ((being)) fished. This
((regulation)) subsection does not apply to vessels in
transit. Violation of his subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.380 or RCW 77.15.550, depending on the circumstances of
the violation.
(5) ((It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of
any commercial food fish or shellfish gear to leave such gear
unattended in waters of the state or offshore waters unless
said gear is marked.
(a) Shellfish pot, bottom fish pot, set line and set net gear must be marked with a buoy to which shall be affixed, in a visible and legible manner, the department approved and registered buoy brand issued to the license, provided that:
(i) Buoys affixed to unattended gear must be visible on the surface of the water except during strong tidal flow or extreme weather conditions.
(ii) When two or more shellfish pots are attached to a common ground line, the number of pots so attached must be clearly labeled on the required buoy.
(b) It is unlawful to operate any gillnet, attended or unattended, unless there is affixed, within five feet of each end of the net, a buoy, float, or some other form of marker, visible on the cork line of the net, on which shall be marked in a visible, legible and permanent manner the name and gillnet license number of the fisher.
(c) It shall be unlawful at any time to leave a gillnet unattended in the commercial salmon fishery.
(6) It shall be unlawful to place any commercial food fish or shellfish gear in any waters closed to commercial fishing, provided that this provision shall not apply to reef nets or brush weirs or to gear being tested under supervision of the department. In addition, it shall be 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 220-47 WAC.
(7) It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any fishing gear to refuse to submit such gear to inspection in any manner specified by authorized representatives of the department.
(8) It shall be unlawful for any person taking or possessing fish or shellfish taken from any of the waters or beaches of the Columbia River, the state of Washington, or the Pacific Ocean, for any purpose, to fail to submit such fish or shellfish for inspection by authorized representatives of the department.
(9) It shall be unlawful for any person licensed by the department to fail to make or return any report required by the department relative to the taking, selling, possessing, transporting, processing, freezing and storing of fish or shellfish, whether taken within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington or beyond, or on Indian reservations or usual and accustomed Indian fishing grounds.
(10))) It ((shall be)) is unlawful to take, fish for,
possess, injure, kill, or molest fish in any fishway, fish
ladder, fish screen, holding pond, rearing pond, or other fish
protective device, or to interfere ((in any manner)) with the
proper operation of ((such)) a fish protective device((s)) in
any way. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.370 or 77.15.380, depending on the circumstances of the
violation.
(((11) It shall be 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
thereof, or for any person to attempt to commit such acts, or
to have any fish, shellfish or parts thereof so taken in
possession, except as provided for in this subsection:
(a) A person may use a dip net or club in the landing of fish taken by personal-use angling, unless otherwise provided; and a person may use a gaff in the landing of tuna, halibut and dogfish, and a harpoon in the landing of halibut, in all catch record card areas.
(b)(i) A person may use a dip net, gaff, or club in the landing of food fish or shellfish taken for commercial purposes, except that it is unlawful to use a fish pew, pitchfork, or any other instrument that will penetrate the body of the fish or shellfish that are not going to be retained or are unlawful to possess.
(ii) It is unlawful under any circumstance to use a device that penetrates the body of a sturgeon whether legal to retain or not.
(c) A person may use a spear in underwater spear fishing, as provided for in WAC 220-56-160.
(d) A person may use a bow and arrow or spear to take carp, as provided for in WAC 220-56-280.
(e) A person may snag herring, smelt, anchovies, pilchard, sand lance, and squid when using forage fish jigger gear or squid jigs.
(f) A person may shoot halibut when landing them with a dip net, harpoon or gaff.
(12))) (6) It ((shall be)) is unlawful to take or
possess((, for any purpose,)) any fish or shellfish smaller or
larger than the ((lawful)) minimum or maximum size limits or
in excess of catch or possession limits prescribed by
department rule. A person must immediately return to the
water any ((such)) fish ((either)) or shellfish snagged,
hooked, netted or gilled ((must be immediately returned to the
water)) that do not conform to department size requirements or
are in excess of catch or possession limits with the least
possible injury to the fish or shellfish. Violation of this
subsection is a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 77.15.380 or
77.15.550, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
(((13) It shall be unlawful to allow salmon or 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.
(14) Notwithstanding the exceptions listed in subsection (15) of this section, it shall be unlawful to possess, aboard any vessel engaged in commercial fishing or having commercially caught fish aboard, any food fish or shellfish in such condition that its species, length, weight or sex cannot be determined if a species, species group or category, length, weight, or sex limit is prescribed for said species.
(15) It is unlawful to possess food fish or shellfish mutilated in any manner such that the natural length or weight cannot be determined if a length or weight limit is prescribed for said species, except as follows:
(a) The food fish or shellfish have been legally taken for commercial purposes, are landed, and are properly accounted for on a completed fish receiving ticket.
(b) A person may possess, transport through the waters of the state, or land dressed sablefish as defined in WAC 220-16-330.
(c) A person may possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed salmon caught during a legal commercial salmon troll fishery, provided that frozen Chinook salmon, dressed with the heads off, shall be 21 1/2 inches minimum; and frozen coho salmon, dressed with the heads off, shall be 12 inches minimum, measured from the midpoint of the clavicle arch to the fork of the tail.
(d) A person may 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. All halibut must be landed with the heads on.
(e) A person may possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed lingcod as defined by WAC 220-16-330 when taken during a lawful commercial fishery.
(16) It shall be unlawful to possess for any purpose any fish or shellfish in excess of catch or possession limits prescribed by department rule. Any such fish either snagged, hooked, netted or gilled must be immediately returned to the water with the least possible injury to the fish or shellfish.
(17) It shall be 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 lawful size or length prescribed for a single net in that area, except as otherwise provided for in the rules and regulations of the department.
(18) It shall be unlawful for any permit holder to fail to comply with all provisions of any special permit or letter of approval issued to him under the authority of the director, or to perform any act not specifically authorized in said document or in the regulations of the commission or director.
(19) It shall be unlawful to use, place or cause to be placed in the waters or on the beaches or tidelands of the state any substance or chemical used for control of predators or pests affecting fish or shellfish or other aquatic marine organisms, without first having obtained a special permit to do so from the director.
(20) It shall be 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 is to be accomplished 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 shall be used with jig or troll gear.
(l) Any and all incidentally caught fish and shellfish must be returned to the waters immediately, and no fish or shellfish are to be retained aboard the vessel at any time during a gear test operation.
(m) It shall be unlawful for any person conducting such gear testing operations to fail to notify the fish and wildlife enforcement office in Olympia prior to testing.
(21))) (7) It is unlawful for any person or ((corporation
either)) entity licensed by the department or bringing fish or
shellfish into the state to fail to comply with the directions
of authorized department personnel related to the collection
of sampling data or material from fish or shellfish. It is
also unlawful for any ((such)) person or ((corporation))
entity to fail to relinquish to the department, upon request,
any part of a salmon or other fish containing coded-wire
tags((,)) including, but not limited to, the snouts of
((those)) salmon ((that are marked by having)) with clipped
adipose fins.
(((22) It is unlawful for any person to possess live
bottom fish taken under a commercial fishery license.
(23) It is unlawful for any person to use chemical irritants to harvest fish, shellfish or unclassified marine invertebrates except as authorized by permit issued by the department.
(24) The lower Columbia River, Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay are closed to commercial sturgeon fishing, except as provided by emergency rule of the director. Sturgeon taken incidentally during an open commercial salmon fishing period may be retained for commercial purposes as described by department rule.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 10-06-095 (Order 10-33), § 220-20-010, filed 3/2/10, effective 4/2/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.047, 50 C.F.R. § 660.370, and 50 C.F.R. § 300.63. 10-02-002 (Order 09-262), § 220-20-010, filed 12/23/09, effective 1/23/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-21-128 (Order 07-266), § 220-20-010, filed 10/23/07, effective 11/23/07; 07-04-030, § 220-20-010, filed 1/29/07, effective 3/1/07; 06-13-023 (Order 06-135), § 220-20-010, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06; 05-08-056 (Order 05-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/30/05, effective 4/30/05; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 00-01-096 (Order 99-214), § 220-20-010, filed 12/15/99, effective 1/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 98-15-031 (Order 98-120), § 220-20-010, filed 7/7/98, effective 8/7/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. 98-06-031, § 220-20-010, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 93-15-051, § 220-20-010, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-20-010, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 91-01-023, § 220-20-010, filed 12/10/90, effective 1/10/91; 89-02-022 (Order 88-186), § 220-20-010, filed 12/29/88; 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-20-010, filed 4/26/88; 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-20-010, filed 4/9/85; 85-08-023 (Order 85-24), § 220-20-010, filed 4/1/85; 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-20-010, filed 3/27/84; 82-15-040 (Order 82-83), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/82; 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-20-010, filed 3/18/82; 81-02-053 (Order 81-3), § 220-20-010, filed 1/7/81; 80-10-058 (Order 80-83), § 220-20-010, filed 8/6/80; 80-07-017 (Order 80-45), § 220-20-010, filed 6/11/80; 79-10-013 (Order 79-75), § 220-20-010, filed 9/7/79; Order 77-14, § 220-20-010, filed 4/15/77; Order 76-148, § 220-20-010, filed 12/2/76; Order 1193, § 220-20-010, filed 3/4/75; Order 1179, § 220-20-010, filed 11/19/74; Order 1106, § 220-20-010, filed 1/10/74; Order 1057, § 220-20-010, filed 5/22/73; Order 945, § 220-20-010, filed 8/16/71; Order 920, § 220-20-010, filed 5/13/71; Order 817, § 220-20-010, filed 5/29/69; Order 810, § 220-20-010, filed 4/17/69; Order 771-A, § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/68; Order 767, § 1, filed 12/22/67; Order 758, § 3, filed 10/16/67; Order 726, §§ 2, 3, filed 4/24/67; Order 721, § 1, filed 3/9/67; Subsections 1, 2 from Orders 405 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 3 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 16 from Order 525, filed 5/3/61; Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 4 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Orders 479 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 5 from Orders 383 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 6, 26, 35 from Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 7-11, 13-15, 17, 18, 22 from Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 12 from Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 19, 27 from Orders 480 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 20 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Orders 483 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 23 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 24 from Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 25 from Orders 449 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 28-33 from Orders 456 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 34 from Orders 486 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 36 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Subsections 37 and 38 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 39 from Order 672, filed 12/28/65.]
(2) It is unlawful for any person to use chemical irritants to harvest fish, shellfish, or unclassified marine invertebrates, except as authorized by department permit.
(3) Violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable under RCW 77.15.150 or 77.15.196, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
[]
(a) A person may use a dip net or club in the landing of fish taken by personal-use angling, unless otherwise provided; and a person may use a gaff in the landing of tuna, halibut and dogfish, and a harpoon in the landing of halibut, in all catch record card areas.
(b) A person may use a spear in underwater spear fishing, as provided in WAC 220-56-160.
(c) A person may use a bow and arrow or spear to take carp or northern pike, as provided in WAC 220-56-280.
(d) A person may snag herring, smelt, anchovies, pilchard, sand lance, and squid when using forage fish jigger gear or squid jigs.
(e) A person may shoot halibut when landing them with a dip net, harpoon or gaff for personal use only.
(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 to use a device that penetrates the body of a sturgeon under any circumstance, whether the sturgeon is legal to retain or not.
(4) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor punishable under RCW 77.15.370, Unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree -- Penalty.
(5) It is unlawful to attempt acts that violate this section. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.380, Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree -- Penalty.
[]
(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 220-49-020) |
(Clupea harengus pallasi) |
| Anchovy (except as provided for in WAC 220-33-060, 220-36-03001, 220-44-020, and 220-40-030) | (Engraulis mordax) |
| Salmon | |
| Chinook | (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) |
| Coho | (Oncorhynchus kisutch) |
| Chum | (Oncorhynchus keta) |
| Pink | (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) |
| Sockeye | (Oncorhynchus nerka) |
| Masu | (Oncorhynchus masu) |
| Sardine | (Sardinops sagax) |
[]
(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 or extreme weather conditions.
(b) It is unlawful to operate any gill net, attended or unattended, 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 on-line 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) E-mail 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.
[]
(2) Violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.280, 77.15.560, or 77.15.568, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
[]
(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; and
(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.
(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 220-16-330.
[]
(2) Violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.520, Commercial fishing -- Unlawful gear or methods -- Penalty.
[]
(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.
(3) Violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.520, 77.15.550, or 77.15.580, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
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(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 220-47 WAC.
(3) Violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.520 or 77.15.550.
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(2) Violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 77.15.550, Violation of commercial fishing area or time -- Penalty, unless the circumstances constitute violating commercial fishing area or time in the first degree, which is a class C felony.
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(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.
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