(1) Throughout this chapter, "department" is used to mean the Washington fish and wildlife commission and the Washington department of fish and wildlife. The term department may also include the staff and employees of the department of fish and wildlife, where indicated by context.
(2) The department of fish and wildlife is the agency to which the legislature has delegated responsibility for preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing fish and wildlife in the lands and waters of the state, including offshore waters.
[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 § 220-101-020, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: Chapter
42.56 RCW, RCW
42.56.040,
77.04.013, and
77.12.047. WSR 12-15-001 (Order 12-139), § 220-80-020, filed 7/6/12, effective 8/6/12; Order 1104, § 220-80-020, filed 11/26/73.]