(1) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license is required for all persons other than residents or nonresidents under fifteen years of age to fish for, take, dig for, or possess seaweed or shellfish, including razor clams, for personal use from state waters or offshore waters including national park beaches.
(2) A razor clam license allows a person to harvest only razor clams for personal use from state waters, including national park beaches.
(3) The fees for annual personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses are:
(a) For a resident fifteen years of age or older, ten dollars;
(b) For a nonresident fifteen years of age or older, twenty-seven dollars; and
(c) For a senior, five dollars.
(4) The fee for an annual razor clam license is eight dollars for residents, fifteen dollars for nonresidents, and eight dollars for seniors.
(5) The fee for a three-day razor clam license is five dollars for both residents and nonresidents.
(6) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license or razor clam license must be in immediate possession of the licensee and available for inspection while a licensee is harvesting shellfish or seaweed. However, the license does not need to be visible at all times.
[ 2011 c 339 § 13; 2007 c 336 § 1; 2004 c 248 § 1; 2000 c 107 § 27; 1999 c 243 § 3; 1998 c 191 § 2; 1994 c 255 § 4; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 3. Formerly RCW 75.25.092.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2011 c 339: See note following RCW 43.84.092.
Report—2007 c 336: "The department of fish and wildlife shall monitor the sale of personal use shellfish and seaweed licenses and razor clam licenses for four years from July 22, 2007. If in any of the four years the number of license sales drop more than ten percent from July 22, 2007, then the department of fish and wildlife shall report the sales and revenue data for the licenses along with any relevant information regarding the reasons for the decrease to the legislature." [ 2007 c 336 § 2.]
Finding—Effective date—1999 c 243: See notes following RCW 77.32.050.
Effective date—1998 c 191: See note following RCW 77.32.410.
Effective date—1994 c 255 §§ 1-13: "Sections 1 through 13 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1995." [ 1994 c 255 § 23.]
Finding—1993 sp.s. c 17: "The legislature finds that additional cost savings can be realized by simplifying the department of fisheries recreational licensing system. The legislature finds that significant benefits will accrue to recreational fishers from streamlining the department of fisheries recreational licensing system. The legislature finds recreational license fees and commercial landing taxes have not been increased in recent years. The legislature finds that reduction in important department of fisheries programs can be avoided by increasing license fees and commercial landing taxes. The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to avoid significant reductions in current department of fisheries activities." [ 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 1.]
Contingent effective date—1993 sp.s. c 17: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1994, except that sections 13 through 30 of this act shall take effect only if Senate Bill No. 5124 does not become law by August 1, 1993." [ 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 32.] Senate Bill No. 5124 [1993 c 340] did become law; sections 13 through 30 of 1993 sp.s. c 17 did not become law.
Severability—1993 sp.s. c 17: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 53.]