Definitions.

RCW 15.85.020

in effect

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Aquaculture" means the process of growing, farming, or cultivating private sector cultured aquatic products in marine or fresh waters and includes management by an aquatic farmer. (2) "Aquatic farmer" is a private sector person who commercially farms and manages the cultivating of private sector cultured aquatic products on the person's own land or on land in which the person has a present right of possession. (3)(a) "Private sector cultured aquatic products" are native, nonnative, or hybrids of marine or freshwater plants and animals that are propagated, farmed, or cultivated on aquatic farms under the supervision and management of a private sector aquatic farmer or that are naturally set on aquatic farms which at the time of setting are under the active supervision and management of a private sector aquatic farmer. When produced under such supervision and management, private sector cultured aquatic products include, but are not limited to, the following plants and animals: Scientific Name Common Name Enteromorpha green nori Monostroma awo-nori Ulva sea lettuce Laminaria konbu Nereocystis bull kelp Porphyra nori Iridaea Haliotis abalone Zhlamys pink scallop Hinnites rock scallop Tatinopecten Japanese or weathervane scallop Protothaca native littleneck clam Tapes manila clam Saxidomus butter clam Mytilus mussels Crassostrea Pacific oysters Ostrea Olympia and European oysters Pacifasticus crayfish Macrobrachium freshwater prawn Salmo and Salvelinus trout, char, and Atlantic salmon Oncorhynchus salmon Ictalurus catfish Cyprinus carp Acipenseridae Sturgeon (b) Private sector cultured aquatic products do not include herring spawn on kelp and other products harvested under a herring spawn on kelp permit issued in accordance with RCW 77.70.210 . (c) Private sector cultured aquatic products do not include octopus and a person may not participate in octopus aquaculture in Washington. (4) "Department" means the department of agriculture. (5) "Director" means the director of agriculture. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Aquaculture" means the process of growing, farming, or cultivating private sector cultured aquatic products in marine or fresh waters and includes management by an aquatic farmer. (2) "Aquatic farmer" is a private sector person who commercially farms and manages the cultivating of private sector cultured aquatic products on the person's own land or on land in which the person has a present right of possession. (3)(a) "Private sector cultured aquatic products" are native, nonnative, or hybrids of marine or freshwater plants and animals that are propagated, farmed, or cultivated on aquatic farms under the supervision and management of a private sector aquatic farmer or that are naturally set on aquatic farms which at the time of setting are under the active supervision and management of a private sector aquatic farmer. When produced under such supervision and management, private sector cultured aquatic products include, but are not limited to, the following plants and animals: Scientific Name Common Name Enteromorpha green nori Monostroma awo-nori Ulva sea lettuce Laminaria konbu Nereocystis bull kelp Porphyra nori Iridaea Haliotis abalone Zhlamys pink scallop Hinnites rock scallop Tatinopecten Japanese or weathervane scallop Protothaca native littleneck clam Tapes manila clam Saxidomus butter clam Mytilus mussels Crassostrea Pacific oysters Ostrea Olympia and European oysters Pacifasticus crayfish Macrobrachium freshwater prawn Salmo and Salvelinus trout, char, and Atlantic salmon Oncorhynchus salmon Ictalurus catfish Cyprinus carp Acipenseridae Sturgeon Scientific Name Common Name Enteromorpha green nori Monostroma awo-nori Ulva sea lettuce Laminaria konbu Nereocystis bull kelp Porphyra nori Iridaea Haliotis abalone Zhlamys pink scallop Hinnites rock scallop Tatinopecten Japanese or weathervane scallop Protothaca native littleneck clam Tapes manila clam Saxidomus butter clam Mytilus mussels Crassostrea Pacific oysters Ostrea Olympia and European oysters Pacifasticus crayfish Macrobrachium freshwater prawn Salmo and Salvelinus trout, char, and Atlantic salmon Oncorhynchus salmon Ictalurus catfish Cyprinus carp Acipenseridae Sturgeon (b) Private sector cultured aquatic products do not include herring spawn on kelp and other products harvested under a herring spawn on kelp permit issued in accordance with RCW 77.70.210 . (c) Private sector cultured aquatic products do not include octopus and a person may not participate in octopus aquaculture in Washington. (4) "Department" means the department of agriculture. (5) "Director" means the director of agriculture.

Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=15.85&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026