Section 220-354-200 - Puget Sound salmon-Beach seine-Emerging commercial fishery-Eligibility-Lawful gear(1) The Puget Sound beach seine salmon fishery is designated as an emerging commercial fishery for which a vessel is required. An emerging commercial fishery license and an experimental fishery permit are required to participate in this fishery.(2) The department will issue six salmon beach seine experimental fishery permits.(3) The following is the selection process the department will use to offer a salmon beach seine experimental permit. (a) Persons who held a salmon beach seine experimental fishery permit in the previous management year will be eligible for a permit in the current management year.(b) The department will work with the advisory board, per RCW 77.70.160(1), to establish criteria by which applicants will qualify to enter the pool. The pool established by this drawing will be maintained to replace any permit(s) which are voided.(4) Permit holders are required to participate in the salmon beach seine experimental fishery. (a) For purposes of this section, "participation" means the holder of the salmon beach seine experimental permit is aboard the designated vessel in the open fishery.(b) If the salmon beach seine experimental permit holder fails to participate, the salmon beach seine experimental permit issued to that fisher will be voided, and a new salmon beach seine experimental permit will be issued through a random drawing from the applicant pool.(c) The department may require permit holders to show proof of participation by maintaining a department approved log book or registering with state officials each day the salmon beach seine experimental permit holder participates.(d) Persons who participate in the fishery but violate conditions of a salmon beach seine experimental permit will have their permit voided, and a new salmon beach seine experimental permit will be reissued through a random drawing from the pool of the voided permit holder.(5) In Quilcene Bay, chum salmon may not be retained by a salmon beach seine experimental permit holder. Chum salmon in Quilcene Bay must be released alive.(6) Any person who fails to purchase the license, fails to participate, or violates the conditions of a salmon beach seine experimental permit will have his or her name permanently withdrawn from the pools.(7) It is unlawful to take salmon with beach seine gear that does not meet the requirements of this subsection.(a) Beach seine salmon nets in Puget Sound shall not exceed 990 feet in length or 200 meshes in depth, or contain meshes of a size less than 3 inches or greater than 4 inches.(b) Mesh webbing must be constructed with a twine size no smaller than 210/30d nylon, 12 thread cotton, or the equivalent diameter in any other material.Wash. Admin. Code § 220-354-200
Decodified by WSR 17-05-112, Filed 2/15/2017, effective 3/18/2017. Recodified from § 220-47-427.Amended by WSR 24-13-053, Filed 6/13/2024, effective 7/14/2024