Wash. Admin. Code § 220-340-435 – Commercial crab fishery—Shellfish pot requirements

(1) It is unlawful to take, fish for, land, or deliver Dungeness crab for commercial purposes from the Columbia River, Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and the Pacific Ocean without a valid Dungeness crab - coastal fishery license, as designated in RCW 77.70.280, or from Puget Sound without a valid Dungeness crab - Puget Sound license, as designated in RCW 77.70.110.
(2) Commercial gear limited to pots. It is unlawful to take or fish for crab for commercial purposes except with shellfish pots, as defined in WAC 220-320-040, using lawful escape mechanisms as required in WAC 220-340-060.
(3) Commercial gear escape rings and ports defined. It is required to use or operate shellfish pot gear in the coastal or Puget Sound commercial Dungeness crab fisheries that meets the following requirements:
1. (a) Pot gear must have 2 or more escape rings or ports;
2. (b) Escape rings or ports must be 4-1/4 inches inside diameter or larger; and
3. (c) Escape rings or ports must be located in the upper half of the trap.
(4) Maximum size for commercial crab pots. It is unlawful to use a crab pot greater than 13 cubic feet in volume to fish for or take Dungeness crab from state or offshore waters for commercial purposes.
(5) Groundline gear is unlawful. It is unlawful to attach or connect a crab pot or ring net to another crab pot or ring net by a common groundline or any other means that connects crab pots together.
(6) Penalty. Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable under RCW 77.15.520 Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or methods—Penalty, or RCW 77.15.522 Unlawful use of shellfish gear for commercial purposes—Penalty, whichever is applicable depending on the circumstances of the violation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.020, 77.12.047, 77.12.320, 77.32.050, 77.32.070, 77.32.090, and 77.65.220. WSR 26-11-003 (Order 26-68), s 220-340-435, filed 5/7/26, effective 6/7/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 20-04-066 (Order 20-15), § 220-340-435, filed 1/31/20, effective 3/2/20. 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 § 220-340-435, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 12-23-016 (Order 12-267), § 220-52-043, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 06-17-058 (Order 06-200), § 220-52-043, filed 8/10/06, effective 9/10/06; WSR 06-01-013 (Order 05-275), § 220-52-043, filed 12/9/05, effective 1/9/06; WSR 05-21-068 (Order 05-246), § 220-52-043, filed 10/14/05, effective 11/14/05; WSR 01-18-005 (Order 01-180), § 220-52-043, filed 8/22/01, effective 9/22/01; WSR 00-18-005 (Order 00-164), § 220-52-043, filed 8/23/00, effective 9/23/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 98-19-012 (Order 98-185), § 220-52-043, filed 9/4/98, effective 10/5/98; WSR 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-52-043, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; WSR 93-15-051, § 220-52-043, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-52-043, filed 3/27/84; WSR 79-02-053 (Order 79-6), § 220-52-043, filed 1/30/79; Order 77-145, § 220-52-043, filed 12/13/77; Order 1179, § 220-52-043, filed 11/19/74; Order 807, § 220-52-043, filed 1/2/69, effective 2/1/69. Formerly WAC 220-52-040(1).]