Fishing & shellfishing/youth

AN ACT Relating to encouraging youth participation in fishing and 1
shellfishing; amending RCW 77.08.010, 77.32.470, and 77.32.520; and 2
creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that youth benefit 5
by engaging in outdoor activities, such as fishing and shellfishing. 6
Participating in such activities can boost self-esteem and cultivate 7
an appreciation for nature. The legislature further finds that 8
license fees can be a barrier to this activity for some youth. 9
Therefore, the legislature intends to reduce financial barriers to 10
fishing and shellfishing by increasing the age at which a fishing 11
license is required.12
Sec. 2. RCW 77.08.010 and 2017 3rd sp.s. c 8 s 2 are each 13
amended to read as follows: 14
The definitions in this section apply throughout this title or 15
rules adopted under this title unless the context clearly requires 16
otherwise. 17
(1) "Angling gear" means a line attached to a rod and reel 18
capable of being held in hand while landing the fish or a handheld 19
line operated without rod or reel. 20
H-1152.1
HOUSE BILL 1955
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule, Dent, Simmons, and Nance
Prefiled 02/11/25. Read first time 02/12/25. Referred to Committee
on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 1955
(2) "Bag limit" means the maximum number of game animals, game 1
birds, or game fish which may be taken, caught, killed, or possessed 2
by a person, as specified by rule of the commission for a particular 3
period of time, or as to size, sex, or species. 4
(3) "Building" means a private domicile, garage, barn, or public 5
or commercial building. 6
(4) "Closed area" means a place where the hunting of some or all 7
species of wild animals or wild birds is prohibited.8
(5) "Closed season" means all times, manners of taking, and 9
places or waters other than those established by rule of the 10
commission as an open season. "Closed season" also means all hunting, 11
fishing, taking, or possession of game animals, game birds, game 12
fish, food fish, or shellfish that do not conform to the special 13
restrictions or physical descriptions established by rule of the 14
commission as an open season or that have not otherwise been deemed 15
legal to hunt, fish, take, harvest, or possess by rule of the 16
commission as an open season. 17
(6) "Closed waters" means all or part of a lake, river, stream, 18
or other body of water, where fishing or harvesting is prohibited.19
(7) "Commercial" means related to or connected with buying, 20
selling, or bartering. 21
(8) "Commission" means the state fish and wildlife commission.22
(9) "Concurrent waters of the Columbia river" means those waters 23
of the Columbia river that coincide with the Washington-Oregon state 24
boundary. 25
(10) "Contraband" means any property that is unlawful to produce 26
or possess. 27
(11) "Covered animal species" means any species of elephant, 28
rhinoceros, tiger, lion, leopard, cheetah, pangolin, marine turtle, 29
shark, or ray either: (a) Listed in appendix I or appendix II of the 30
convention on international trade in endangered species of wild flora 31
and fauna; or (b) listed as critically endangered, endangered, or 32
vulnerable on the international union for conservation of nature and 33
natural resources red list of threatened species. 34
(12) "Covered animal species part or product" means any item that 35
contains, or is wholly or partially made from, any covered animal 36
species. 37
(13) "Deleterious exotic wildlife" means species of the animal 38
kingdom not native to Washington and designated as dangerous to the 39
environment or wildlife of the state. 40
p. 2 HB 1955
(14) "Department" means the department of fish and wildlife.1
(15) "Director" means the director of fish and wildlife.2
(16) "Distribute" or "distribution" means either a change in 3
possession for consideration or a change in legal ownership.4
(17) "Endangered species" means wildlife designated by the 5
commission as seriously threatened with extinction.6
(18) "Ex officio fish and wildlife officer" means:7
(a) A commissioned officer of a municipal, county, or state 8
agency having as its primary function the enforcement of criminal 9
laws in general, while the officer is acting in the respective 10
jurisdiction of that agency; 11
(b) An officer or special agent commissioned by one of the 12
following: The national marine fisheries service; the Washington 13
state parks and recreation commission; the United States fish and 14
wildlife service; the Washington state department of natural 15
resources; the United States forest service; or the United States 16
parks service, if the agent or officer is in the respective 17
jurisdiction of the primary commissioning agency and is acting under 18
a mutual law enforcement assistance agreement between the department 19
and the primary commissioning agency; 20
(c) A commissioned fish and wildlife peace officer from another 21
state who meets the training standards set by the Washington state 22
criminal justice training commission pursuant to RCW 10.93.090, 23
43.101.080, and 43.101.200, and who is acting under a mutual law 24
enforcement assistance agreement between the department and the 25
primary commissioning agency; or 26
(d) A Washington state tribal police officer who successfully 27
completes the requirements set forth under RCW 43.101.157, is 28
employed by a tribal nation that has complied with RCW 10.92.020(2) 29
(a) and (b), and is acting under a mutual law enforcement assistance 30
agreement between the department and the tribal government.31
(19) "Fish" includes all species classified as game fish or food 32
fish by statute or rule, as well as all finfish not currently 33
classified as food fish or game fish if such species exist in state 34
waters. The term "fish" includes all stages of development and the 35
bodily parts of fish species. 36
(20) "To fish" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, 37
injure, harass, harvest, or capture a fish or shellfish.38
(21) "Fish and wildlife officer" means a person appointed and 39
commissioned by the director, with authority to enforce this title 40
p. 3 HB 1955
and rules adopted pursuant to this title, and other statutes as 1
prescribed by the legislature. Fish and wildlife officer includes a 2
person commissioned before June 11, 1998, as a wildlife agent or a 3
fisheries patrol officer. 4
(22) "Fish broker" means a person who facilitates the sale or 5
purchase of raw or frozen fish or shellfish on a fee or commission 6
basis, without assuming title to the fish or shellfish.7
(23) "Fish dealer" means a person who engages in any activity 8
that triggers the need to obtain a fish dealer license under RCW 9
77.65.280. 10
(24) "Fishery" means the taking of one or more particular species 11
of fish or shellfish with particular gear in a particular 12
geographical area. 13
(25) "Food, food waste, or other substance" includes human and 14
pet food or other waste or garbage that could attract large wild 15
carnivores. 16
(26) "Fresh water" means all waters not defined as salt water 17
including, but not limited to, rivers upstream of the river mouth, 18
lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. 19
(27) "Fur-bearing animals" means game animals that shall not be 20
trapped except as authorized by the commission. 21
(28) "Fur dealer" means a person who purchases, receives, or 22
resells raw furs for commercial purposes. 23
(29) "Game animals" means wild animals that shall not be hunted 24
except as authorized by the commission. 25
(30) "Game birds" means wild birds that shall not be hunted 26
except as authorized by the commission. 27
(31) "Game farm" means property on which wildlife is held, 28
confined, propagated, hatched, fed, or otherwise raised for 29
commercial purposes, trade, or gift. The term "game farm" does not 30
include publicly owned facilities. 31
(32) "Game reserve" means a closed area where hunting for all 32
wild animals and wild birds is prohibited. 33
(33) "To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, 34
injure, harass, harvest, or capture a wild animal or wild bird.35
(34) "Illegal items" means those items unlawful to be possessed.36
(35)(a) "Intentionally feed, attempt to feed, or attract" means 37
to purposefully or knowingly provide, leave, or place in, on, or 38
about any land or building any food, food waste, or other substance 39
p. 4 HB 1955
that attracts or could attract large wild carnivores to that land or 1
building. 2
(b) "Intentionally feed, attempt to feed, or attract" does not 3
include keeping food, food waste, or other substance in an enclosed 4
garbage receptacle or other enclosed container unless specifically 5
directed by a fish and wildlife officer or animal control authority 6
to secure the receptacle or container in another manner.7
(36) "Large wild carnivore" includes wild bear, cougar, and wolf.8
(37) "License year" means the period of time for which a 9
recreational license is valid. The license year begins April 1st, and 10
ends March 31st. 11
(38) "Limited-entry license" means a license subject to a license 12
limitation program established in chapter 77.70 RCW.13
(39) "Limited fish seller" means a licensed commercial fisher who 14
sells his or her fish or shellfish to anyone other than a wholesale 15
fish buyer thereby triggering the need to obtain a limited fish 16
seller endorsement under RCW 77.65.510. 17
(40) "Money" means all currency, script, personal checks, money 18
orders, or other negotiable instruments. 19
(41) "Natural person" means a human being. 20
(42)(a) "Negligently feed, attempt to feed, or attract" means to 21
provide, leave, or place in, on, or about any land or building any 22
food, food waste, or other substance that attracts or could attract 23
large wild carnivores to that land or building, without the awareness 24
that a reasonable person in the same situation would have with regard 25
to the likelihood that the food, food waste, or other substance could 26
attract large wild carnivores to the land or building.27
(b) "Negligently feed, attempt to feed, or attract" does not 28
include keeping food, food waste, or other substance in an enclosed 29
garbage receptacle or other enclosed container unless specifically 30
directed by a fish and wildlife officer or animal control authority 31
to secure the receptacle or container in another manner.32
(43) "Nonresident" means a person who has not fulfilled the 33
qualifications of a resident. 34
(44) "Offshore waters" means marine waters of the Pacific Ocean 35
outside the territorial boundaries of the state, including the marine 36
waters of other states and countries. 37
(45) "Open season" means those times, manners of taking, and 38
places or waters established by rule of the commission for the lawful 39
hunting, fishing, taking, or possession of game animals, game birds, 40
p. 5 HB 1955
game fish, food fish, or shellfish that conform to the special 1
restrictions or physical descriptions established by rule of the 2
commission or that have otherwise been deemed legal to hunt, fish, 3
take, or possess by rule of the commission. "Open season" includes 4
the first and last days of the established time. 5
(46) "Owner" means the person in whom is vested the ownership 6
dominion, or title of the property. 7
(47) "Person" means and includes an individual; a corporation; a 8
public or private entity or organization; a local, state, or federal 9
agency; all business organizations, including corporations and 10
partnerships; or a group of two or more individuals acting with a 11
common purpose whether acting in an individual, representative, or 12
official capacity. 13
(48) "Personal property" or "property" includes both corporeal 14
and incorporeal personal property and includes, among other property, 15
contraband and money. 16
(49) "Personal use" means for the private use of the individual 17
taking the fish or shellfish and not for sale or barter.18
(50) "Predatory birds" means wild birds that may be hunted 19
throughout the year as authorized by the commission.20
(51) "To process" and its derivatives mean preparing or 21
preserving fish, wildlife, or shellfish. 22
(52) "Protected wildlife" means wildlife designated by the 23
commission that shall not be hunted or fished. 24
(53) "Raffle" means an activity in which tickets bearing an 25
individual number are sold for not more than ((twenty-five dollars)) 26
$25 each and in which a permit or permits are awarded to hunt or for 27
access to hunt big game animals or wild turkeys on the basis of a 28
drawing from the tickets by the person or persons conducting the 29
raffle. 30
(54) "Resident" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 77.08.075.31
(55) "Salt water" means those marine waters seaward of river 32
mouths. 33
(56) "Seaweed" means marine aquatic plant species that are 34
dependent upon the marine aquatic or tidal environment, and exist in 35
either an attached or free floating form, and includes , but is not 36
limited to , marine aquatic plants in the classes Chlorophyta, 37
Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta. 38
(57) "Senior" means a person ((seventy)) 70 years old or older.39
p. 6 HB 1955
(58) "Shark fin" means a raw, dried, or otherwise processed 1
detached fin or tail of a shark. 2
(59)(a) "Shark fin derivative product" means any product intended 3
for use by humans or animals that is derived in whole or in part from 4
shark fins or shark fin cartilage. 5
(b) "Shark fin derivative product" does not include a drug 6
approved by the United States food and drug administration and 7
available by prescription only or medical device or vaccine approved 8
by the United States food and drug administration. 9
(60) "Shellfish" means those species of marine and freshwater 10
invertebrates that have been classified and that shall not be taken 11
or possessed except as authorized by rule of the commission. The term 12
"shellfish" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts 13
of shellfish species. 14
(61) "State waters" means all marine waters and fresh waters 15
within ordinary high water lines and within the territorial 16
boundaries of the state. 17
(62) "To take" and its derivatives means to kill, injure, 18
harvest, or capture a fish, shellfish, wild animal, bird, or seaweed.19
(63) "Taxidermist" means a person who, for commercial purposes, 20
creates lifelike representations of fish and wildlife using fish and 21
wildlife parts and various supporting structures. 22
(64) "Trafficking" means offering, attempting to engage, or 23
engaging in sale, barter, or purchase of fish, shellfish, wildlife, 24
or deleterious exotic wildlife. 25
(65) "To trap" and its derivatives means a method of hunting 26
using devices to capture wild animals or wild birds.27
(66) "Unclaimed" means that no owner of the property has been 28
identified or has requested, in writing, the release of the property 29
to themselves nor has the owner of the property designated an 30
individual to receive the property or paid the required postage to 31
effect delivery of the property. 32
(67) "Unclassified wildlife" means wildlife existing in 33
Washington in a wild state that have not been classified as big game, 34
game animals, game birds, predatory birds, protected wildlife, 35
endangered wildlife, or deleterious exotic wildlife.36
(68) "To waste" or "to be wasted" means to allow any edible 37
portion of any game bird, food fish, game fish, shellfish, or big 38
game animal other than cougar to be rendered unfit for human 39
consumption, or to fail to retrieve edible portions of such a game 40
p. 7 HB 1955
bird, food fish, game fish, shellfish, or big game animal other than 1
cougar from the field. For purposes of this chapter, edible portions 2
of game birds must include, at a minimum, the breast meat of those 3
birds. Entrails, including the heart and liver, of any wildlife 4
species are not considered edible. 5
(69) "Wholesale fish buyer" means a person who engages in any 6
fish buying or selling activity that triggers the need to obtain a 7
wholesale fish buyer endorsement under RCW 77.65.340.8
(70) "Wild animals" means those species of the class Mammalia 9
whose members exist in Washington in a wild state. The term "wild 10
animal" does not include feral domestic mammals or old world rats and 11
mice of the family Muridae of the order Rodentia. 12
(71) "Wild birds" means those species of the class Aves whose 13
members exist in Washington in a wild state. 14
(72) "Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom whose 15
members exist in Washington in a wild state. This includes , but is 16
not limited to , mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and 17
invertebrates. The term "wildlife" does not include feral domestic 18
mammals, old world rats and mice of the family Muridae of the order 19
Rodentia, or those fish, shellfish, and marine invertebrates 20
classified as food fish or shellfish by the director. The term 21
"wildlife" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts of 22
wildlife members. 23
(73) "Wildlife meat cutter" means a person who packs, cuts, 24
processes, or stores wildlife for consumption for another for 25
commercial purposes. 26
(74) "Youth" means a person ((fifteen)) 18 years old and under 27
for fishing and under ((sixteen)) 16 years old for hunting.28
Sec. 3. RCW 77.32.470 and 2020 c 148 s 20 are each amended to 29
read as follows: 30
(1) A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, temporary, 31
or family fishing weekend license is required for all persons 32
((fifteen)) 18 years of age or older to fish for or possess fish 33
taken for personal use from state waters or offshore waters.34
(2) The fees for annual personal use saltwater, freshwater, or 35
combination licenses are as follows: 36
(a) A combination license allows the holder to fish for or 37
possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed from state waters or offshore 38
waters. The fee for this license is ((forty-five dollars )) $45 for 39
p. 8 HB 1955
residents, ((one hundred eight dollars )) $108 for nonresidents, and 1
((five dollars)) $5 for youth. There is an additional ((fifty-cent)) 2
50 cent surcharge for this license, to be deposited in the rockfish 3
research account created in RCW 77.12.702. 4
(b) A saltwater license allows the holder to fish for or possess 5
fish taken from saltwater areas. The fee for this license is 6
((twenty-five dollars )) $25 for residents, ((fifty-two dollars )) $52 7
for nonresidents, and ((five dollars)) $5 for resident seniors. There 8
is an additional ((fifty-cent)) 50 cent surcharge for this license, 9
to be deposited in the rockfish research account created in RCW 10
77.12.702. 11
(c) A freshwater license allows the holder to fish for, take, or 12
possess food fish or game fish species in all freshwater areas. The 13
fee for this license is ((twenty-five dollars )) $25 for residents, 14
((seventy-five dollars )) $75 for nonresidents, and ((five dollars )) 15
$5 for resident seniors. 16
(3)(a) A temporary combination fishing license is valid for one 17
to three consecutive days and allows the holder to fish for or 18
possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed taken from state waters or 19
offshore waters. The fee for this temporary fishing license is:20
(i) One day - ((Eight dollars )) $8 for residents and ((sixteen 21
dollars)) $16 for nonresidents; 22
(ii) Two days - ((Twelve dollars )) $12 for residents and 23
((twenty-four dollars)) $24 for nonresidents; and 24
(iii) Three days - ((Fifteen dollars )) $15 for residents and 25
((thirty dollars)) $30 for nonresidents. 26
(b) The fee for a charter stamp is ((eight dollars )) $8 for a 27
one-day temporary combination fishing license for residents and 28
nonresidents for use on a charter boat as defined in RCW 77.65.150.29
(c) Except for active duty military personnel serving in any 30
branch of the United States armed forces, the temporary combination 31
fishing license is not valid on game fish species for an eight-32
consecutive-day period beginning on the opening day of the lowland 33
lake fishing season as defined by rule of the commission.34
(d) The temporary combination fishing license fee for active duty 35
military personnel serving in any branch of the United States armed 36
forces is the resident rate as set forth in (a) of this subsection. 37
Active duty military personnel must provide a valid military 38
identification card at the time of purchase of the temporary license 39
to qualify for the resident rate. 40
p. 9 HB 1955
(e) There is an additional ((fifty-cent)) 50 cent surcharge on 1
the temporary combination fishing license and the associated charter 2
stamp, to be deposited in the rockfish research account created in 3
RCW 77.12.702. 4
(4) A family fishing weekend license allows for a maximum of six 5
anglers: One resident and five youth; two residents and four youth; 6
or one resident, one nonresident, and four youth. This license allows 7
the holders to fish for or possess fish taken from state waters or 8
offshore waters. The fee for this license is ((twenty dollars)) $20. 9
This license is only valid during periods as specified by rule of the 10
department. 11
(5) The commission may adopt rules to create and sell combination 12
licenses for all hunting and fishing activities at or below a fee 13
equal to the total cost of the individual license contained within 14
any combination. 15
(6) The commission may adopt rules to allow the use of two 16
fishing poles per fishing license holder for use on selected state 17
waters. If authorized by the commission, license holders must 18
purchase a two-pole stamp to use a second pole. The proceeds from the 19
sale of the two-pole stamp must be deposited into the limited fish 20
and wildlife account created in RCW 77.12.170(1) and used for the 21
operation and maintenance of state-owned fish hatcheries. The fee for 22
a two-pole stamp is ((thirteen dollars )) $13 for residents and 23
nonresidents, and ((five dollars)) $5 for seniors.24
Sec. 4. RCW 77.32.520 and 2011 c 339 s 13 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
(1) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license is required for 27
all persons other than residents or nonresidents under ((fifteen)) 18 28
years of age to fish for, take, dig for, or possess seaweed or 29
shellfish, including razor clams, for personal use from state waters 30
or offshore waters including national park beaches.31
(2) A razor clam license allows a person to harvest only razor 32
clams for personal use from state waters, including national park 33
beaches. 34
(3) The fees for annual personal use shellfish and seaweed 35
licenses are: 36
(a) For a resident ((fifteen)) 18 years of age or older, ((ten 37
dollars)) $10; 38
p. 10 HB 1955
(b) For a nonresident ((fifteen)) 18 years of age or older, 1
((twenty-seven dollars)) $27; and 2
(c) For a senior, ((five dollars)) $5. 3
(4) The fee for an annual razor clam license is ((eight dollars)) 4
$8 for residents, ((fifteen dollars )) $15 for nonresidents, and 5
((eight dollars)) $8 for seniors. 6
(5) The fee for a three-day razor clam license is ((five 7
dollars)) $5 for both residents and nonresidents. 8
(6) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license or razor clam 9
license must be in immediate possession of the licensee and available 10
for inspection while a licensee is harvesting shellfish or seaweed. 11
However, the license does not need to be visible at all times.12
--- END ---
p. 11 HB 1955