Washington Administrative Code
Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of
FISH
Chapter 220-353 - Commercial fisheries-General commercial fishery rules
Section 220-353-020 - General gear rules-Commercial fishery
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 220-353-020
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(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 athttp://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 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-119, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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