Washington Administrative Code Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of
Here’s an overview of Washington Administrative Code Title 220 – Fish and Wildlife, Department of WDFW, outlining its structure, key topics, and some sample rules:
📘 Structure of Title 220 WAC
Based on the official WAC listing, Title 220 is organized into these major sections
1. Department & Commission (220‑101 to 220‑120)
Department purpose, commission roles, rule‑making procedures, and public records requirements.
2. General Provisions (220‑200 to 220‑220)
Definitions, licensing rules for recreational users.
3. Fish (220‑300 to 220‑370)
Classification and management of fish species.
Personal-use fishery rules (e.g., smelt, salmon, halibut, sturgeon).
Shellfish usage rules.
Commercial fisheries: permitting, reporting, recordkeeping.
Aquaculture regulation.
4. Wildlife (220‑400 to 220‑460)
Hunting and trapping definitions and license requirements.
Game management areas and firearm regulations.
Falconry, game farms, captive wildlife, and wildlife interactions.
Regulations for wildlife rehabilitation and commercial wildlife tourism.
5. Department Lands (220‑500)
Rules governing WDFW-managed lands.
6. Environmental Standards & Conservation (220‑600 to 220‑660)
Implementation of SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act).
Endangered or protected species.
Invasive/nonnative species guidelines.
Ballast water regulation: e.g., notifications for treatment systems (app.leg.wa.gov, regulations.justia.com, apps.leg.wa.gov, regulations.justia.com, publicinput.com).
Hydraulic-code rules to protect fish habitat during water projects.
🔍 Example Rules by Chapter
Personal-use Smelt Regulations
WAC 220‑315‑040: It is unlawful for personal-use smelt fishermen to exceed daily limits or use a container not labeled with their name (resourcecenter.transect.com, regulations.justia.com).
Game Fish Possession Limits
WAC 220‑310‑090: Freshwater field possession is limited to two daily limits; wild steelhead, Dolly Varden, and bull trout may not be retained (law.cornell.edu).
Commercial Fisheries Ticketing
WAC 220‑352‑040: Requires detailed record-keeping on non‑treaty fish receiving tickets including fisher ID, vessel, gear, species & weight, value, signatures, etc. (law.cornell.edu).
Ballast Water Management
WAC 220‑650‑100: Vessel operators must notify WDFW when using ballast treatment technology, or apply for a “promising tech” waiver, including detailed system specs and testing records (regulations.justia.com).
📝 Why This Matters
Title 220 defines WDFW’s regulatory authority over fish and wildlife in Washington State. Key roles include:
Managing recreational and commercial fishing
Controlling hunting, wildlife rehabilitation, and captive wildlife
Protecting aquatic habitats via environmental and hydraulic rules
Enforcing public safety and conservation through rigorous licensing and reporting standards
✅ Getting Specific?
If you're interested in:
Licensing processes for commercial fisheries
Environmental assessment mandates under SEPA
Wildlife rehabilitation or falconry
Hydraulic project guidelines (e.g., culverts, habitat restoration)
Let me know which section(s) you're targeting—I can provide exact WAC references, summaries, or even direct links to a specific chapter!
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