Section 220-20-123. 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.

(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.

[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.]

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.