Fish and shellfish labeling — Identification of species — Exceptions — Penalty.
RCW 77.140.030
in effect(1) It is unlawful to knowingly sell or offer for sale at wholesale or retail any fresh, frozen, or processed fish or shellfish without identifying for the buyer at the point of sale the species of fish or shellfish by its common name, such that the buyer can make an informed purchasing decision for his or her protection, health, and safety. (2) It is unlawful to knowingly label or offer for sale any fish designated as halibut, with or without additional descriptive words, unless the fish product is Hippoglossus hippoglossus or Hippoglossus stenolepsis . (3) This section does not apply to salmon that is minced, pulverized, coated with batter, or breaded. (4) This section does not apply to a commercial fisher properly licensed under chapter 77.65 or 77.70 RCW and engaged in sales of fish to a wholesale fish buyer. (5) A violation of this section constitutes misbranding under RCW 77.140.060 and is punishable as a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony depending on the fair market value of the fish or shellfish involved in the violation. (6)(a) The common names for salmon species are as listed in RCW 77.140.010 . (b) The common names for all other fish and shellfish are the common names for fish and shellfish species as defined by rule of the department. If the common name for a species is not defined by rule of the department, then the common name is the acceptable market name or common name as provided in the United States food and drug administration's publication "Seafood list - FDA's guide to acceptable market names for seafood sold in interstate commerce," as the publication existed on July 28, 2013. (7) For the purposes of this section, "processed" means fish or shellfish processed by heat for human consumption, such as fish or shellfish that is kippered, smoked, boiled, canned, cleaned, portioned, or prepared for sale or attempted sale for human consumption. (8) Nothing in this section precludes using additional descriptive language or trade names to describe fish or shellfish as long as the labeling requirements in this section are met.
(1) It is unlawful to knowingly sell or offer for sale at wholesale or retail any fresh, frozen, or processed fish or shellfish without identifying for the buyer at the point of sale the species of fish or shellfish by its common name, such that the buyer can make an informed purchasing decision for his or her protection, health, and safety.
(2) It is unlawful to knowingly label or offer for sale any fish designated as halibut, with or without additional descriptive words, unless the fish product is Hippoglossus hippoglossus or Hippoglossus stenolepsis .
(3) This section does not apply to salmon that is minced, pulverized, coated with batter, or breaded.
(4) This section does not apply to a commercial fisher properly licensed under chapter 77.65 or 77.70 RCW and engaged in sales of fish to a wholesale fish buyer.
(5) A violation of this section constitutes misbranding under RCW 77.140.060 and is punishable as a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony depending on the fair market value of the fish or shellfish involved in the violation.
(6)(a) The common names for salmon species are as listed in RCW 77.140.010 .
(b) The common names for all other fish and shellfish are the common names for fish and shellfish species as defined by rule of the department. If the common name for a species is not defined by rule of the department, then the common name is the acceptable market name or common name as provided in the United States food and drug administration's publication "Seafood list - FDA's guide to acceptable market names for seafood sold in interstate commerce," as the publication existed on July 28, 2013.
(7) For the purposes of this section, "processed" means fish or shellfish processed by heat for human consumption, such as fish or shellfish that is kippered, smoked, boiled, canned, cleaned, portioned, or prepared for sale or attempted sale for human consumption.
(8) Nothing in this section precludes using additional descriptive language or trade names to describe fish or shellfish as long as the labeling requirements in this section are met.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.140&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026