Section 220-52-010. Shellfish—Unlawful acts.

(1) It is unlawful to take oysters or clams for commercial purposes from tidelands reserved for public use unless authorized by a permit issued by the director.

(2)(a) It is unlawful to take shellfish for commercial purposes from state oyster reserves without permission of the director of fisheries.

(b) Licensing: An oyster reserve fishery license is the license required to take shellfish for commercial purposes from state oyster reserves.

(3) All geoduck and mechanical clam harvester vessels shall be issued an identification number. It is unlawful to fail to place this number in a visible location on each side of the vessel and on the top of the cabin or deck awning to be visible from the air. A sign board or banner arranged so the numbers can be seen at all times from directly overhead may be substituted if the vessel does not have a fixed roof. The numbers shall be black on a white background and shall be not less than 18 inches high and of proportionate width.

(4) It shall be unlawful for a commercial clam digger to harvest clams from intertidal ground without having on his person a signed authorization from the registered clam farmer for whom he is harvesting. The digger will also be required to have suitable personal identification with him when engaged in clam harvesting. The authorization from the registered clam farmer must be legible, dated and must contain the date on which the authorization expires, provided that in no instance may the authorization go beyond the end of any calendar year. The authorization must additionally contain the name of each bay or area where the registered clam farmer has owned or leased ground from which the named clam digger is authorized to harvest.

(5)(a) It is unlawful to fish for or possess ghost or mud shrimp taken for commercial purposes unless authorized by a permit issued by the director.

(b) Licensing: A burrowing shrimp fishery license is the license required to take ghost or mud shrimp for commercial purposes.

(6) It is unlawful to set any shellfish pot gear such that the pot is not covered by water at all tide levels.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-010, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; WSR 88-12-025 (Order 88-28), § 220-52-010, filed 5/25/88, effective 8/22/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.58.040. WSR 86-19-043 (Order 86-102), § 220-52-010, filed 9/12/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-52-010, filed 3/27/84; Order 77-145, § 220-52-010, filed 12/13/77; Order 1258, § 220-52-010, filed 8/25/75; Order 857, § 220-52-010, filed 12/11/69; Order 807, § 220-52-010, filed 1/2/69, effective 2/1/69; subsections 1, 3-5, Orders 414, 256, filed 3/1/60; subsection 2, Orders 443, 256, filed 3/1/60.]

RCW 75.08.080. WSR 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-010, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; WSR 88-12-025 (Order 88-28), § 220-52-010, filed 5/25/88, effective 8/22/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.58.040. WSR 86-19-043 (Order 86-102), § 220-52-010, filed 9/12/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-52-010, filed 3/27/84; Order 77-145, § 220-52-010, filed 12/13/77; Order 1258, § 220-52-010, filed 8/25/75; Order 857, § 220-52-010, filed 12/11/69; Order 807, § 220-52-010, filed 1/2/69, effective 2/1/69; subsections 1, 3-5, Orders 414, 256, filed 3/1/60; subsection 2, Orders 443, 256, filed 3/1/60.