WAC 220-20-021   Sale of commercially caught sturgeon, bottomfish and halibut.  (1) It is unlawful for any person while engaged in commercial fishing for sturgeon, bottomfish or halibut to:

     (a) Keep sturgeon smaller or greater than the size limits provided for in WAC 220-20-020, keep more than one sturgeon for personal use, or keep more than the equivalent of one daily limit of sport caught bottomfish for personal use. Any lingcod to be retained for personal use taken east of the mouth of the Sekiu River must be greater than 26 inches in length and may not exceed 40 inches in length. All commercially taken sturgeon, bottomfish, and halibut retained for personal use must be recorded on fish receiving tickets.

     (b) Sell any sturgeon, bottomfish, or halibut taken under such license to anyone other than a licensed wholesale dealer within or outside the state of Washington, except that a person who is licensed as a wholesale dealer under the provisions of RCW 77.65.280 may sell to individuals or corporations other than licensed wholesale dealers.

     (c) Remove from the body cavity of the sturgeon any eggs or roe prior to the time the sturgeon is sold to a wholesale dealer licensed under RCW 77.65.280.

     (2) It is unlawful for any wholesale dealer licensed under RCW 77.65.280 to purchase or attempt to purchase sturgeon eggs from sturgeon taken by any person licensed to take sturgeon for commercial purposes under chapter 77.65 RCW if the sturgeon eggs have been removed from the body cavity of the sturgeon prior to the sale of the sturgeon.

     (3) It is unlawful to purchase, sell, barter or attempt to purchase, sell, or barter any sturgeon eggs taken from sturgeon caught in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam.

     (4) It is unlawful to remove either the head or tail from a sturgeon prior to the time the sturgeon is sold to a wholesale dealer licensed under RCW 77.65.280 and delivered to a fish processing plant.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-21-128 (Order 07-266), § 220-20-021, filed 10/23/07, effective 11/23/07; 07-04-030, § 220-20-021, filed 1/29/07, effective 3/1/07; 06-05-094 (Order 06-24), § 220-20-021, filed 2/14/06, effective 3/17/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-043 (Order 97-51), § 220-20-021, filed 3/14/97, effective 4/14/97; 94-12-009 (Order 94-23), § 220-20-021, filed 5/19/94, effective 6/19/94; 85-08-023 (Order 85-24), § 220-20-021, filed 4/1/85; 82-17-040 (Order 82-105), § 220-20-021, filed 8/13/82.]