WDFW Requested Legislation: Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement...BILL PASSED

[bigtex]

WDFW has requested the legislature approve several measures regarding fish and wildlife law enforcement during the 2014 legislative session which begins in January. Those changes include:

•   Instituting a civil fine of $2,000 for taking a white sturgeon over 65 inches in length
•   Instituting a civil fine of $2,000 for taking a green sturgeon
•   Instituting a civil fine of $500 for possessing a wild salmon or wild steelhead that is protected under the Endangered Species Act

The civil fines are enacted under the same laws for killing big game. A court CANNOT reduce the above fines.

•   All law enforcement officers (outside of WDFW) can enforce fish and wildlife laws and individuals are required to produce for inspection gear, licenses, and game/fish. Currently under law it is a crime to not produce those items for WDFW Officers, but not “ex officio fish and wildlife officers” (big term for non-WDFW Officers enforcing fish and wildlife laws). This law changes that and closes that loophole.

•   Institutes a fine of $500 plus statutory assessments for being too close to an Orca Whale. Current fine is $42 plus statutory assessments which bring the total fine to $87. This is the same for ALL natural resource infractions.

•   Those familiar with federal wildlife laws may know the “Lacey Act” which has several provisions including the prohibition of transporting/possessing fish, wildlife, plants, etc that was taken unlawfully and bringing it across state or international lines. In some areas it also includes bringing it across some federal land areas, even inside the state. WDFW is asking the legislature to create a state gross misdemeanor which would create a state offense of unlawful possession of fish, shellfish, or wildlife taken or possessed in violation of another state’s or country’s laws or regulations.

[buckfvr]

One thing that jumps out to me is, provided WDFW proves through DNA sampling that the salmon or steelhead are truley wild, and not just un-clipped hatchery fish.

Also if equipment is seized against a hatchery fish, said equip should be returned to owner.

[bigtex]

One thing that jumps out to me is, provided WDFW proves through DNA sampling that the salmon or steelhead are truley wild, and not just un-clipped hatchery fish.

The state law (already in place) adopts the federal regulations as to what is protected and what is not. For salmon and steelhead the "official" term is "naturally spawned." So a problem you may have with DNA is that if a fish doesn't return to the hatchery and does spawn naturally their offspring will not be clipped but may have DNA similar to the hatchery fish. Under federal law, those fish are protected....

[buckfvr]

    That takes care of that..........

[Knocker of rocks]

The civil fines are enacted under the same laws for killing big game. A court CANNOT reduce the above fines.

That is never good

[CP]

So I’ll keep releasing all the Tulalip hatchery kings that I catch in areas 9 & 8-2.   

[bigtex]

The civil fines are enacted under the same laws for killing big game. A court CANNOT reduce the above fines.

That is never good

Why? You don't like that somebody shoots a buck and gets an automatic $2000 fine? Without that a judge can say $0 and be good for 6 months

[Knocker of rocks]

I trust a judge to look at reason and capability.

[hntrspud]

I for one am glad that the Orca fine has been increased. The interesting part is, if you follow the laws you dont have to worry about it.

[bigtex]

I trust a judge to look at reason and capability.

The fine is handed down by a judge. The person must be found/plea guilty.

[bigtex]

The interesting part is, if you follow the laws you dont have to worry about it.

Like any law 

[CP]

The interesting part is, if you follow the laws you dont have to worry about it.

Like any law 

You guys are saying that no one has ever been wrongfully accused or convicted of breaking a law?  I wish that were true. 

[hntrspud]

I am absolutely not saying that. As with all agencies there is good and bad, but in the vast majority of the cases it is not a false accusation.

[bigtex]

When this bill gets introduced in January we need EVERYONE to call/email their legislator to pass this bill 

[Daytonite]

When this bill gets introduced in January we need EVERYONE to call/email their legislator to pass this bill 

Couldn't agree more