BILL REQ. #:  H-1568.1 

Read first time 02/18/2003.   Referred to Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish; adding a new section to chapter 77.15 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 77.15 RCW to read as follows:
     Since violation of rules of the department relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest of food fish, commercialized game fish, and shellfish result in damage to the resources of the state, persons selling such fish and shellfish at retail, including but not limited to stores, markets, and restaurants, must maintain sufficient records for the department to be able to ascertain the origin of the fish and shellfish in their possession.
     (1) A retail fish seller is guilty of retail fish seller's failure to account for commercial harvest if the retail seller sells fish or shellfish at retail, the fish or shellfish were required to be entered on a Washington state fish receiving ticket, the seller is not a wholesale fish dealer or fisher selling under a direct retail sale endorsement, and the seller fails to maintain sufficient records at the location where the fish or shellfish are being sold to determine the following:
     (a) The name of the wholesale fish dealer from whom the fish were purchased;
     (b) The wholesale fish dealer's license number;
     (c) The fish receiving ticket number documenting original receipt, if known;
     (d) The date of purchase; and
     (e) The amount of fish or shellfish originally purchased from the wholesale dealer.
     (2) A retail fish seller's failure to account for commercial harvest is a misdemeanor.