SKOKOMISH ON-RESERVATION AND TREATY FISHING
ORDINANCE
Adopted by Resolution No. 97-015 (February 26,
1997)
Amended by Resolution No. 97-080A (November 19,
1997)
Amended by Resolution No. 98-049 (June 17, 1998)
Amended by Resolution No. 98-069 (August 26, 1998)
Amended by Resolution No. 09-025 (February 4,
2009)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL PROVISIONS
7.02.001 Title
7.02.002 Authority
and Declaration of Policy
7.02.003 Definitions
7.02.004 Jurisdiction
7.02.005 Liberal
Construction
7.02.006 Informal
Cross References
7.02.007 Severability
FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION
7.02.020 General Closure
7.02.021 Treaty Fishing Outside Usual and Accustomed Grounds Prohibited
7.02.022 [Reserved]
7.02.023 Fisheries
Manager
7.02.024 Fish
Committee Membership and Responsibility
7.02.025 Adoption
of Annual Regulations; Emergency Regulations
7.02.026 Delegation to Treaty Council of In-Common Fishery Management
7.02.027 Fishing
Areas/Catch Reporting Districts
7.02.028 Special
Provisions for On-Reservation Fisheries
7.02.029 Test
Fishery
ELIGIBLE FISHERMEN
7.02.040 Enrolled
Members
7.02.041 Non-member
Indian Spouses
7.02.042 Minors
7.02.043 Non-Members
Fishing Non-Commercially On-Reservation
7.02.044 Biological
Personnel
7.02.045 Fishing
Vessel Assistance
REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION AND PERMITS
7.02.050 General
Requirements
7.02.051 Tribal
Fishing Identification Card
7.02.052 Subsistence
and Recreational Fishing
7.02.053 Commercial
Fishing and Shellfish Harvesting
7.02.054 Ceremonial
Fishing
7.02.055 Damaged
or Lost Fishing Permits and Tribal Identification Cards
7.02.056 Fisheries
Personnel
FISHING VESSEL OWNERSHIP AND REGISTRATION
7.02.070 Fishing
Vessel Ownership
7.02.071 Fishing
Vessel Registration
7.02.072 Use
of Tribally Registered Boat by Unauthorized Person
7.02.073 Use
of Purse Seiner Prohibited
SPECIFIC GEAR PROVISIONS
7.02.080 Marine
Drift Nets
7.02.081 Marine
Set Nets
7.02.082 Beach
Seines
7.02.083 River
Gillnets
7.02.084 Hook
and Line - Subsistence and Recreational Fishing
7.02.085 Shellfish
- Hand‑Held Gear Only
7.02.086 Shellfish
Pots
7.02.087 Prohibited
Gear and Removal of Gear
7.02.088 Fishery
Activities Requiring Artificial Breathing Apparatus
CATCH REPORTING AND THE SALE OF FISH
7.02.100 Sale
of Fish and Shellfish
7.02.101 Completion
of Fish Tickets
7.02.102 Tax
on Fish Sold Commercially
7.02.103 Buyer
Licensing and Regulating On Reservation Fish Buyer
ENFORCEMENT
7.02.110 Fisheries
Enforcement Officers
7.02.111 Complaint
or Citation to Tribal Court
7.02.112 Arrest
7.02.113 Search
and Seizure
OFFENSES
7.02.120 General Fishing Violations
7.02.121 Fisheries
Enforcement - Related Violations
7.02.122 Identification,
Permit and Vessel Registration Violations
7.02.123 Fishing
Vessel and Gear Ownership Violations
7.02.124 Fishing
Assistant Violations
7.02.125 Minors
- Violations
7.02.126 Fish
Ticket, Catch Reporting and Sale of Fish Violations
7.02.127 Net
Violations
7.02.128 Shellfish
Violations
7.02.129 Diving
Violations
SENTENCING
GUIDELINES
7.02.140 Classification of Offenses for Sentencing and Bail
7.02.141 Sentencing Guidelines
7.02.142 Penalties - First Violation, Community Service
7.02.143 Penalties - Second and Subsequent Violations
7.02.144 Bail
ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEALS PROCEDURE
7.02.150 Appeal
from Decision of Fisheries Manager and Fish Committee
7.02.151 Appeal
from Final Determination of Fish Committee to Tribal Council
General
Provisions
7.02.001 Title
This Ordinance shall be known as the
Skokomish On-Reservation and Treaty Fishing Ordinance.
7.02.002 Authority and Declaration of Policy
Fishing is central to the cultural and
economic existence of the Skokomish Indian Tribe and its members. This On-Reservation and Treaty Fishing
Ordinance is enacted pursuant to the inherent sovereign authority of the
Skokomish Indian Tribe and applicable federal law. By this Ordinance and the regulations adopted
under it, the Skokomish Indian Tribe intends to exercise control over fishing,
shellfishing and related activities to the fullest extent of tribal jurisdiction
in order to properly regulate, manage and protect all of the fisheries
resources available to the Tribe and to insure their continued availability to
the Tribe and its members. Nothing in
this Ordinance shall be construed as a relinquishment, abrogation or abridgment
of any treaty right of the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
7.02.003 Definitions
(a) Where a term is not defined in this
Ordinance, it shall be given its ordinary meaning. Words and phrases used in
the past, present or future tense shall include the past, present and future
tenses; words and phrases used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender
shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders; and words and phrases
used in singular or plural shall include the singular and plural, unless the
context indicates otherwise.
(b) Terms used in this Ordinance, and regulations
adopted under it, shall have the following meaning given to them in this
section, except where otherwise specifically defined and unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Accompany" or "Accompanied"
means in the immediate physical presence of another person.
(2) "Assist" or "participate"
in a tribal fishery or any treaty fishing activity is defined to include:
(A) Any handling of the fishing or shellfishing
gear, nets, ropes and lines being used by the member;
(B) Carrying of the fish, shellfish or marine
resources caught by the member; or
(C) Engaged in any activity intended to:
(i) Cause or result in fish, shellfish or marine
resources being caught by the member; or
(ii) Affect the sale of fish or shell fish,
including transporting to the place of initial sale.
(3) "Beach Identification Number" or
"BIN" means the six-digit number or other number agreed to by the
State of
(4) "Beach Seine" means a type of net
used to capture fish in near-shore areas by encircling them using a process
commonly known as seining.
(5) "Biological Personnel" or
"Biologist" means trained biologists and technicians who are employed
by the Tribe and/or the Point No Point Treaty Council and/or the Northwest
Indian Fisheries Commission and whose duties include advising on the management
and/or enhancement of tribal fisheries.
(6) "Buyer" means a person who
purchases fish, shellfish or marine resources from the fishermen who caught the
fish, shellfish or marine resources or who, for commercial purposes, smokes or
otherwise processes and sells fish, shellfish or marine resources he has caught
himself.
(7) "Ceremonial Fishing" means the
taking of fish, shellfish, or other fishery resources for use in tribal
ceremonies, and is exclusive of fishing for subsistence and commercial fishing.
(8) "Crab Pot" is an enclosed trap with
at least two escape rings or ports located in the upper half of the trap.
(9) "Commercial Fishing" means fishing,
shellfishing, or the taking of any other fishery resource with the intent to
sell or profit economically. Commercial
fishing does not include:
(A) Barter among Skokomish tribal members;
(B) Subsistence or ceremonial fishing;
(C) "Road sales" for purposes of the
fish tax requirements, when conducted in compliance with this Ordinance and
regulations adopted under it.
(10) "Depth of Net" means the total
distance between cork and lead line measured in meshes perpendicular to either
cork or lead line.
(11) "Drift Net" or "pole net"
gear means a gillnet which is not staked, anchored or weighted but drifts free.
(12) "Enrolled Member,"
"Member" or "Enrolled Person" means any person who is an
enrolled member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
(13) "Exercise Treaty Fishing Rights"
and "Exercise Tribal Fishing Rights" include, but are not limited to:
(A) Harvesting, transporting, processing,
offering for sale or barter, any fish, shellfish or marine resources
purportedly pursuant to treaty fish and shellfish rights; and/or
(B) Traveling to and from such activities,
purportedly pursuant to treaty fish and shellfish rights.
(14) "Fish" means any edible fishery resource
including, but not limited to, salmon, steelhead, other anadromous fish,
bottomfish, shellfish, etc., and any part thereof.
(15) "Fish Committee" means the
Skokomish Tribal Fish Committee established pursuant to this Ordinance.
(16) "Fisheries Enforcement Officer"
means a person delegated the responsibility of enforcing this Ordinance and the
regulations promulgated under it.
(17) "Fishing" means:
(A) Attempting to catch, trap, net or otherwise
take any fish from its natural habitat by any means whatsoever; and/or
(B) Possessing any fish on a fish site after
having caught the fish by any means previously described in this definition.
(18) "Fishing Vessel" or
"Vessel" means any boat used to deploy, retrieve or transfer fishing
or shellfishing gear or marine products.
(19) "Fishing Gear" or "Gear"
means all types and sizes of hooks, nets, spears, gaffs, lines, traps, rakes,
shovels and appliances and other apparatus used to catch, trap, net or
otherwise take fish, shellfish or marine resources.
(20) "Fish Ticket" means the form
provided by the State of
(21) "Gaff and Snag Line" means
hand-operated gear used to impale fish by pursuing and striking the individual
fish with the gear.
(22) "Gillnet" means a net of web
construction bound at the top by a float line and at the bottom by a weight
line.
(23) "Hand Dip Net" means a section of
netting distended by a rigid frame, operated by a process commonly recognized
as dipping.
(24) "Head of Household" means any
member of the Tribe who is exclusively or substantially responsible for
providing his or her own care and maintenance or the care and maintenance of
his or her family.
(25) "Hook-and-Line" or
"hand-line" means a single line, attached to which are no more than
two single-point hooks or one treble-point hook.
(26) "Management Period" means the time
interval during which the majority of a fish or shellfish species are
accessible to capture. A management
period is specific to a species and location.
(27) "Marine Resource" means all marine
vegetation and marine life, other than fin fish and shellfish, which inhabit
the intertidal and sub-tidal zones of the marine environment and may be utilized
by humans for personal, spiritual or commercial purposes.
(28) "Minor" means a person under the
age of eighteen (18) years.
(29) "Non-Member" means any person who
is not an enrolled member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
(30) The term "Person" may be construed
to include the
(31) "Point No Point Treaty Council" or
"Treaty Council" means the confederacy of Indian Tribes in the Point
No Point Treaty area established for the purpose of unifying management of the
tribal fisheries resource in the Point No Point Treaty area.
(32) "
(33) "Purse Seiner" means a fishing
vessel which carries machinery for the power retrieval of seine nets.
(34) "Reservation" means the Skokomish
Indian Reservation established pursuant to the Treaty of Point No Point of
January 26, 1855, 12 Stat. 933, and the Executive Order of February 25, 1874.
(35) "Ring Net" means a type of dip net
which may be lowered from a vessel by a rope.
(36) "Skokomish Indian Tribe" or
"Tribe" means the present-day sovereign tribal entity which is the
political successor in interest to certain tribes, bands or groups of Indians
who were parties to the Treaty of Point No Point.
(37) "Set Net" means a gillnet which is
anchored, tied, stationed, laid in part on shore or whose lead line is so
heavily weighted that it cannot drift.
(38) "Shellfish" means al marine
invertebrates or any parts thereof, including, but not limited to, littleneck,
manila, horse, butter and geoduck clams; cockles; scallops; squid; octopus;
mussels; sea cucumbers; sea urchins; oysters; shrimp; and crab.
(39) "Shellfishing" means:
(A)
Attempting to catch, trap, net or otherwise take any shellfish from its
natural habitat by any means whatsoever; and/or
(B)
Possessing any shellfish on a shellfish site after having caught the
shellfish by any means previously described in this definition.
(40) "Shrimp Pot" means an enclosed trap
made of netting stretched over a rigid frame that incorporates entry tunnels.
(41) "Stretched Measure" means the
distance between the inside of one knot to the outside of the opposite knot on
one mesh of netting material. This
measurement shall be taken when the mesh is stretched vertically while wet, by
using a tension of ten (10) pounds on any three (3) consecutive meshes, then
measuring the middle mesh of the three (3) while under tension.
(42) "Subsistence Fishing" means the
taking of fish, shellfish, or other fishery resources for personal consumption
by tribal members and their families.
Subsistence fish is exclusive of fishing for commercial or ceremonial
uses.
(43) "Test Fishery" means a fishery
allowed on a limited basis for the purpose of acquiring technical or management
information including stock strength, timing, species or stock composition,
gear selectivity, exploitation rate, and enhancement possibilities.
(44) "Tribal Council" means the duly
constituted governing body of the Skokomish Indian Tribe delegated authority by
the Skokomish General Council to conduct and regulate the business of and act
on behalf of the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
(45) "
(46) "Tribal Fisherman" means any
person, whether or not a member of the Tribe, who is exercising any tribal
fishing or shellfishing rights or who is assisting in the exercise of such
rights pursuant to tribal authorization.
(47) "Troll Gear" means a series of
fishing lines attached to a fishing vessel which are retrievable either manually
or hydraulically.
(48) "U.S.
v. Washington" means the decision of the U.S. District Court United States v. State of Washington,
384 F. Supp. 312 (W.D. Wash. 1974), aff'd 520 F.2d 676 (9th Cir. 1975) cert.
denied 423
(49) "Usual and Accustomed Fishing
Grounds" or "U&A" means all waters of Hood Canal south of a
line connecting Olele Point and Foulweather Bluff, and all freshwater streams
draining into Hood Canal and all water bodies in the Hood Canal Watershed
drainage.
7.02.004 Jurisdiction
(a) Territory.
The provisions
of this Ordinance and all rules and regulations adopted under it shall apply to
the fullest extent of the sovereign jurisdiction of the Skokomish Indian Tribe
authorized by the Constitution of the Skokomish Indian Tribe, the Treaty of
Point No Point and applicable federal law.
The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to and be in conformity
with all agreements and other cooperative arrangements entered into by the
Skokomish Indian Tribe designed to provide tribal access to available fisheries
and to provide effective fisheries management in the Point No Point Treaty
area.
(b) Persons.
The provisions
of this Ordinance and all rules and regulations adopted under it shall apply to
all persons who are eligible to fish under this Ordinance, all persons who
claim to be exercising fishing rights secured to the Skokomish Indian Tribe by
the Treaty of Point No Point or other applicable treaties or agreements, and to
all persons fishing within the exterior boundaries of the Skokomish
Reservation.
7.02.005 Liberal Construction
This Ordinance
shall be liberally construed to give full effect to the objectives and purposes
for which it was enacted.
7.02.006 Informal Cross References
Cross reference notations found within
the body of the Ordinance are designed to assist people using the Ordinance and
are informational only. Cross
referencing a provision to an offense section or the failure to do so does not
carry any legal effect.
7.02.007 Severability
If any provision of this Ordinance, or
its application to any person, legal entity or circumstance, is held invalid,
the remainder of the Ordinance, or the application of the provision to other
persons or legal entities or circumstances, shall not be affected.
Fisheries
Administration
7.02.020 General Closure
The waters and
beaches of the Skokomish Reservation and all waters and beaches off-Reservation
fished by the Skokomish Indian Tribe are closed to the taking of fish,
shellfish and other marine resources unless specifically opened by this
Ordinance or by regulations adopted under it.
[Cross reference: Section 7.02.120(b) - Fishing in a Closed
Area is a Class A offense]
7.02.021 Treaty Fishing Outside Usual and Accustomed
Grounds Prohibited
No tribal member shall attempt to
exercise the treaty fishing rights of the Skokomish Indian Tribe in any area
which is outside the usual and accustomed fishing grounds of the Skokomish
Indian Tribe except where formally invited.
[Cross reference: Section 7.02.120(a) - Fishing Outside the
Usual and Accustomed Fishing Grounds is a Class A offense]
7.02.022 [Reserved]
7.02.023 Fisheries Manager
(a) The Skokomish Fisheries Manager shall be an
employee of the Skokomish Department of Natural Resources.
(b) The Fisheries Manager shall have the
following duties and responsibilities:
(1) Managing the Skokomish Tribal Fishery and
coordinating the management of the Tribal Fishery with the Point No Point
Treaty Council staff;
(2) Promulgating fishing regulations for review
by the Skokomish Fish Committee and approval by the Tribal Council; and
(3) Directing the fisheries enhancement effort of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
(c) The Skokomish Fisheries Manager shall carry
out any other duties delegated to him by this Ordinance or by the Tribal
Council.
7.02.024 Fish Committee Membership and
Responsibility
(a) Role of Fish Committee.
The Fish
Committee shall act in a regulatory and advisory capacity to the Fisheries
Manager, the Tribal Council, and the Treaty Council, and shall carry out any
other fisheries related duties assigned to it by the Tribal Council or this
Ordinance. Issues which may be addressed
by the Fish Committee include:
(1) Recommending the times when and places where
the taking of fish, shellfish and other marine resources is lawful, with
preference to ceremonial and subsistence fishing;
(2) Recommending and defining the types, sizes
and other characteristics of fishing gear not already defined in this Ordinance;
(3) Recommending the time, place and manner in
which it will be lawful to use any fishing gear;
(4) Recommending additional requirements and
conditions of the issuance and use of tribal fishing permits; and
(5) Regulating all other aspects of the Tribal
fishery which the Tribal Council refers to the Fish Committee.
7.02.025 Adoption of Annual Regulations;
Emergency Regulations
(a) Proposed Annual Regulations.
The Fisheries
Manager shall prepare or direct the preparation of proposed annual regulations
for each species of fish, shellfish and other marine resources to be managed by
the Tribe for its fishermen. These
proposed regulations shall cover all aspects of tribal fishing consistent with
this Ordinance and the requirements of U.S.
v. Washington. In preparing the
proposed regulations, the Fisheries Manager shall:
(1) Consider all recommendations made to him by
the Tribal Council, the Fish Committee, tribal and Treaty Council biologists
and other interested parties;
(2) Submit the proposed annual regulations to the
Fish Committee for review and recommendation to the Tribal Council; and
(3) Submit the proposed annual regulations to the
Tribal Council with a written resolution approving and authorizing the adoption
of the annual regulations to be effective on dates specified therein.
(b) Emergency Regulations.
The Fisheries
Manager shall have the power to make emergency changes in the annual
regulations to insure proper management and conservation of the fisheries
resource. The power to make emergency
changes in annual regulations includes the power to close a tribal fishery when
in his judgment the closure is necessary to meet conservation or allocation
needs.
(1) Good Faith Requirement.
Emergency
action pursuant to this section shall not occur until the Fisheries Manager has
made a good faith effort to consult with the Fish Committee and a tribal
biologist or a Treaty Council biologist about the action.
(2) Effective Date.
Emergency
regulations issued by the Fisheries Manager shall be effective and enforceable
when they are issued or according to their terms and shall remain effective
until specifically modified or rescinded by the Fisheries Manager or the Tribal
Council. No penalty shall be imposed for
violations of an emergency regulation unless twenty-four (24) hours have passed
since it was issued and posted, or unless there has been personal written or
oral notice of the regulation given to the fisherman by Fisheries Enforcement
or Fisheries Management staff, whichever occurs first.
(3) Tribal Council Authority.
The Tribal
Council shall at all times retain the right to modify or rescind any or all
emergency regulations issued by the Fisheries Manager.
(c) Notice of Regulations:
(1) Notice for
Regulations
shall be provided to the parties in U.S.
v. Washington according to the time schedule and for those species
specified in the applicable orders entered in U.S. v. Washington.
(2) Notice for Other Species.
Regulations
regarding species not adjudicated under U.S.
v. Washington shall be provided to the Tribal Council and appropriate
outside agencies.
(3) Notice to Tribal Council.
Copies of all
fishing regulations shall be provided to the Tribal Council within a reasonable
time.
(4) Posting of Notice of Adopted Regulations.
Copies of all
adopted regulations, including emergency regulations, shall be prominently
posted within the Reservation and shall be available to Tribal members upon
request.
7.02.026 Delegation to Treaty Council of In-Common
Fishery Management
(a) Power to Delegate Management of In-Common
Fishery to Treaty Council.
The Skokomish
Tribal Council has the power to delegate to the Treaty Council, by resolution
and through the Point No Point Treaty Council Intertribal Fisheries Management
Compact, the authority to manage fishing areas the Tribe has in-common with
other members of the Treaty Council and the authority to negotiate in-common
regulations with tribes which are not members of the Treaty Council.
(b) Tribal Council Review of Regulations
Proposed by Treaty Council.
Regulations
proposed by the Treaty Council on behalf of the Tribe shall be subject to the
same procedural and review provisions as the regulations proposed and
promulgated by the Fisheries Manager, including the right of the Tribal Council
to reject or modify any regulations proposed by the Treaty Council.
7.02.027 Fishing Areas/Catch Reporting
Districts
Annual and
emergency fishing regulations may refer to marine areas by area ordinance
numbers. The waters represented by these
numbers shall be described in the most current State of
7.02.028 Special Provisions for On -
Reservation Fisheries
(a) Special On-Reservation Net Fishing
Regulations:
(1) The Fisheries Manager shall prepare or direct
the preparation of the regulations regarding net fishing on the
Reservation. In preparing the proposed
net fishing regulations, the Fisheries Manager shall:
(A) Consider all recommendations made to him by
the Tribal Council, the Fish Committee, tribal and Treaty Council biologists, and
other interested parties;
(B) Submit the proposed regulations to the Fish
Committee for review and recommendation to the Tribal Council; and
(C) Submit the proposed regulations to the Tribal
Council with a written resolution approving and authorizing the adoption of the
regulations to the Tribal Council with a written resolution approving and
authorizing the adoption of the regulations to be effective on dates specified
therein.
(2) Establishment of Fishing Locations.
The Fish
Committee shall prepare and recommend for approval by the Tribal Council a list
of fishing locations at appropriate places along the
(A) The locations shall be at intervals
established in compliance with Section 7.02.083 of this Ordinance.
(B) Only one enrolled member shall be assigned to
each fishing location. An enrolled member assigned to a fishing location may
enter into an agreement with another enrolled member to fish the location as a
partnership; PROVIDED that such agreement is in writing and filed with
the fisheries manager. Under no
circumstances may an enrolled member assigned to a fishing location sell,
convey, or pledge such assigned fishing location.
(C) An enrolled member assigned to a fishing
location shall not use more than one set net at a time at that location. No person shall use more than one set net and
one drift net or two set nets in the river at the same time.
(3) Abandonment of Fishing Location.
A fishing site
shall be considered abandoned if it is not fished for a period of one year.
(A) Any tribal member wishing to be assigned an
abandoned fishing location shall apply in writing to the Fish Committee.
(B) The Fish Committee shall designate and
recommend for approval by the Tribal Council a successor to the abandoned
fishing location.
(c) An abandoned fishing location shall not be
fished until properly reassigned to a tribal member pursuant to this section
(4) Relinquishment of Fishing Location.
(A)
Voluntary Relinquishment:
A fishing
location may be relinquished upon written notification to the Fish Committee by
an enrolled member assigned to the fishing location of their intent to
relinquish.
(i) The written notification may designate a
successor to the fishing location, PROVIDED such designee is a member of
the family and is an enrolled tribal member who has not already been assigned a
separate fishing location or is willing to relinquish the separate fishing
location.
(ii) If no person is designated within the written
notification, any tribal member wishing to be assigned a relinquished fishing
location shall apply in writing to the Fish Committee. The Fish Committee shall designate and
recommend for approval by the Tribal Council a successor to the relinquished
fishing location. Preference for
reassigning a relinquished fishing location shall be given to a member of the
family, if the family member is an enrolled tribal member who has not
already been assigned a separate fishing location or is willing to relinquish
the separate fishing location.
(B) Relinquishment upon Death.
A fishing
location shall be relinquished upon the death of an enrolled member assigned to
the fishing location.
(i) An enrolled member assigned to a fishing
location may designate in writing an heir to the fishing location, PROVIDED
such heir is a member of the family and is an enrolled tribal member who has
not already been assigned a separate fishing location or is willing to
relinquish the separate fishing location.
(ii) If no person is designated as an heir, any
tribal member wishing to be assigned a relinquished fishing location shall
apply in writing to the Fish Committee.
The Fish Committee shall designate and recommend for approval by the
Tribal Council a successor to the relinquished fishing location. Preference for reassigning a relinquished
fishing location shall be given to a member of the family, if the family
member is an enrolled tribal member who has not already been assigned a
separate fishing location or is willing to relinquish the separate fishing
location.
(C) A relinquished fishing location shall not be
fished until properly reassigned to a tribal member pursuant to this section.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(d)(2) -
Violation of Special On-Reservation Net Fishing Regulations is a Class C
offense]
(b) Area Closure.
No gillnet may
be operated in that part of Area 12C south of a straight line drawn between the
Tacoma City Light Powerhouse to Nalley's Slough, except by tribal fisheries
staff for the benefit of the Tribe.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(b) - Fishing
in a Closed Area is a Class A offense]
(c) Hatchery Facilities.
No person shall
take, attempt to take or harass any salmon species from any tribal, state,
federal or tribally recognized private hatchery facility.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(f) - Taking
Fish from Hatcheries and Closed Areas is a Class A offense]
7.02.029 Test Fishery
(a) Decision to Conduct Test Fishery.
The Fisheries
Manager shall have the power to authorize a test fishery when in his or her
professional opinion such a fishery is justified. The Fisheries Manager shall determine the
type and amount of gear to be used and the time period and fishing area for the
test fishery. There shall be no test fishery other than as directed by the
Fisheries Manager and/or the Treaty Council.
Other affected management entities shall be given reasonable notice of
proposed test fisheries.
(b) Who May Conduct Test Fishery; Use of
Proceeds.
Only the Tribe
or the Treaty Council may conduct a test fishery. Fish, shellfish or marine resources taken in
test fisheries are the property of the Tribe or Treaty Council, whichever
conducts the test fishery. All proceeds
from the sale of fish, shellfish or marine resources caught in test fisheries
shall be remitted to the Tribe or Treaty Council, as appropriate.
(c) Selection of Participants in Test Fishery.
In order to
participate in a test fishery, a fisherman shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) The fisherman shall be an enrolled member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe or other member of the tribe of the Point No Point
Treaty Council who is eligible to participate in said Tribe's fishery. Any staff member employed by the Tribe may be
present at the test fishery to collect data.
(2) The fisherman shall be experienced in the use
of the selected test gear type in the selected test fishing area. In the case of test fisheries which require
vessel-deployed drift nets, only those fishermen who have successfully operated
their vessel and gear in the most recent regular fishery prior to the test
fishery shall be eligible to participate in the test fishery.
(3) The fisherman shall agree to record and
provide to the Fisheries Manager all the information regarding the test fishery
requested by the Fisheries Manager.
(4) In the event that more than the number of
eligible fishermen necessary for a specific test fishery are interested in participating
in the test fishery, the participants shall be chosen by a fair drawing
conducted by the Fisheries Manager.
Participation in the test fishery shall be according to the order
established in the drawing for that test fishery. If the test fishery continues long enough for
all of the interested fishermen to participate in it once, then the
participation of fishermen shall continue by rotating through the order
established by the drawing. A fisherman
who becomes interested and eligible to participate in an on-going test fishery
after the drawing has been held shall be assigned a place at the end of the
rotation list established by the drawing.
"At the end of the rotation list" shall mean after the last
person on the participation schedule as it stands on the day the new fisherman
begins participation in the test fishery.
(5) When a selected test fisherman withdraws or
is disqualified from participating in the test fishery, the next fisherman on
the list shall be designated as his or her replacement. Test fishermen shall not exchange their
position on the list before the test fishery begins without the approval of the
Fisheries Manager. No exchange of
positions shall be made after the test fishery begins.
(6) In the event that a test fishery continues
for and extended period of time, with the result that some fishermen have
repeatedly participated in it, fishermen who are ineligible to participate
because their gear or experience is inadequate may indicate to the Fisheries
Manager their desire to be an assistant in the test fishery. The Fisheries Manager may require the test
fisherman to select a new assistant each time the test fisherman participates
again in that test fishery.
(7) The test fisherman must agree to participate
in the test fishery for the amount of compensation provided for within this
section.
(8) In the event that no member fisherman
possesses the type of gear necessary to conduct a test fishery, a non-member
may be hired to fish in a test fishery.
It is the Fishery Manager's responsibility to determine if any member
fisherman possesses the necessary gear.
(d)
Fish, shellfish
or marine resources taken in test fisheries shall be sold only on a Test
Fishery Card, and not on the individual test fisherman's Tribal Fishing
Identification Card.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(i) - Sale of
Fish Without Proper Permits, Cards, Identification and Registrations is a Class
B offense]
(e) Compliance with Test Fishery Requirements.
Test fishermen
shall strictly obey the gear, time, area and reporting requirements of the test
fishing program. Failure to comply with
the reporting requirements or the gear, time and area restrictions of the test
fishing program shall constitute withdrawal from the program, and is a
violation of this Ordinance.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(c) -
Unauthorized Test Fishery is a Class B offense]
(f) Compensation of Test Fishermen.
The Fisheries
Manager shall determine compensation for test fishermen at the time of authorization
of the test fishery and in compliance with existing tribal contractual
procedures. Any compensation is
conditioned on compliance with all applicable reporting requirements.
(g) Test Fishery Catch exempt from Tax.
The Tribal Fish
Tax shall not be applied to the sale of fish or shellfish caught in test
fisheries.
Eligible
Fishermen
7.02.040 Enrolled Members
Enrolled members of the Skokomish Indian
Tribe are eligible to exercise treaty fishing rights, but only in accordance
with this Ordinance and applicable regulations.
7.02.041 Non-member Indian Spouses
(a) Non-member Indian Spouses Are Eligible to
Exercise Skokomish Tribal Fishing Rights.
Non-member
Indian spouses of enrolled Skokomish Tribal members are eligible to exercise
Skokomish tribal fishing rights, PROVIDED that:
(1) The member spouse must accompany the
non-member Indian spouse while exercising tribal fishing rights outside the
boundaries of the Skokomish Reservation;
(2) The non-member spouse must sign an annual
written agreement containing the following;
(A) A voluntary and knowing relinquishment of the
commercial treaty fishing rights from his or her Tribe;
(B) An unconditional promise to adhere to all
Skokomish Tribal Ordinances and regulations; and
(C) Consent to the jurisdiction of the
(b) Definition of Indian.
For purposes of
this section, non-member Indian spouses must be enrolled members of a federally
recognized Indian tribe; EXCEPT non-member Indian spouses who are not
enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe, but who have exercised
Skokomish tribal fishing rights prior to the enactment of this code, may
continue to exercise those rights.
(c) Definition of Spouse.
For purposes of
this section, a "spouse" includes any person who is considered to be
married under the laws of the Skokomish Indian Tribe or the Sate of Washington.
(d) Divorce or Separation.
A non-member
Indian spouse loses the right to exercise Skokomish tribal fishing rights at
the time of divorce or separation from the member spouse. The determination of
whether the enrolled member and the non member Indian spouse are separated
resulting in the loss of Skokomish treat fishing rights shall be made by the
Fish Committee.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(1) -
Non-Member Fishing Without Authorization is a Civil infraction; Section
7.02.024(a) - Allowing Non-Members to Participate or Assist in Tribal Fishing
is a Class A offense]
7.02.042 Minors
(a) Minors Commercial Fishing.
Tribal members
who are between the ages of 12 years old and 18 years old are eligible to
exercise treaty fishing and shellfishing rights for commercial purposes, in
accordance with the requirements of this section, PROVIDED he or she
meets one of the following three circumstances:
(1) The minor is accompanied by an adult member
of the Tribe;
(2) The minor is a head of household. The determination of whether a person is the
head of household to exercise treaty fishing rights shall be made by the Fish
Committee prior to that person fishing; or
(3) The minor has been exempted from the
restrictions places on minors upon a showing of extreme hardship. The determination of whether there is a
showing of extreme hardship sufficient to allow a minor to be exempt from the
sections of this Ordinance pertaining to minors shall be made by the Fish
Committee prior to that person fishing.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.125(a) - Minors
Not Accompanied by Adult is a Class D offense]
(b) Minors Subsistence Fishing.
Tribal members
who are under the age of 18 years old may exercise treaty fishing and
shellfishing rights for subsistence purposes in accordance with the
requirements of Section 7.02.052, PROVIDED:
(1) In the exercise of fishing rights for
subsistence purposes, a minor may only fish with hook and line as defined
within this Ordinance; and
(2) In the exercise of shellfishing rights for
subsistence purposes, a minor must be accompanied by an adult member and may
only assist such adult member.
(c) Time Restrictions.
All minors
authorized to fish, shellfish or harvest marine resources under this Ordinance
shall be subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, all applicable
regulations and the following time restrictions:
(1) No minor shall fish earlier than 5:00 p.m. on
a regularly scheduled school day;
(2) No minor shall fish later than 10:00 p.m. on
any day immediately preceding a regularly scheduled school day;
(3) For purposes of this section, "regularly
scheduled school day" means Monday through Friday, except scheduled school
vacations or holidays; and
(4) The time restrictions in this section shall
not apply if prior to fishing:
(A) The minor's parent or legal guardian has
requested a written waiver, approved by the Fish Committee, allowing the minor
to fish, shellfish, or harvest marine resources during the restricted time;
(B) The Fish Committee has determined that the
minor is a head of household pursuant to Section 7.02.042(a)(2);
(C) The minor has been exempted from the
restrictions placed on minors upon a showing the extreme hardship pursuant to
§ 7.02.042(a)(3); or
(D) The minor has graduated from high school and
has requested a written waiver, approved by the Fish Committee, allowing the
minor to fish, shellfish, or harvest marine resources during the restricted
time.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.125(b) -
violation of Time of Day Restrictions is a Class D offense]
(d) Parental Responsibility for Minor and
Required Consent.
It is the duty
of the parent or legal guardian of any minor who is to exercise treaty fishing
rights pursuant to this section to insure compliance with this Ordinance. No minor shall be issued a tribal
Identification Card unless:
(1) The minor obtains the written and signed
consent of his or her parent or legal guardian;
(2) The consent clearly indicates the duty of the
parent or legal guardian to insure compliance with this section;
(3) Both a parent or legal guardian who permits a
minor to violate this section and the minor violating this section shall be
subject to the penalties provided by this Ordinance; and
(4) This subsection shall not apply when the Fish
Committee has determined that the minor is the head of a household.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.125(c) -
Allowing a Minor to Fish Contrary to Fishing Ordinance is a Class D offense]
7.02.043 Non-Members Fishing Non-Commercially
On-Reservation
(a) Special Permit Required.
A non-member
(including a non-member spouse) may have the privilege of fishing
non-commercially by hook and line on the Reservation if he or she has obtained
a special fishing permit from the Skokomish Indian Tribe through the Skokomish
Fisheries Office. Non-members fishing
on-Reservation shall comply with this Ordinance, all applicable regulations and
restrictions contained within the special fishing permit.
(b) Written Agreement Required.
The non-member
must sign a written agreement containing the following:
(1) An unconditional promise to adhere to all
Skokomish Tribal ordinances and regulations; and
(2) Consent to the jurisdiction of the
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(l) -
Non-member Fishing Without Authorization is a Civil infraction]
7.02.044 Biological Personnel
(a) Approved Scientific, Management and/or Enhancement
Purposes.
Biological
personnel of the Skokomish Indian Tribe, The Point No Point Treaty Council and
the Northwest Indian Fish Commission may take and possess fish and shellfish of
all species and other marine resource for approved scientific management and/or
enhancement purposes by any means or gear suitable for the purpose of the
biological program.
(b) Cumulative Record Required.
Biological
personnel taking fish, shellfish or marine resources under the authority of
this Ordinance shall keep a cumulative record of all fish taken and shall
produce it for inspection upon request by the Fisheries Manager or fisheries
enforcement officer. Fish, shellfish and
other marine resources taken by biological personnel shall not be sold or used
for personal gain of the biological personnel, but shall remain the property of
the Tribe or the Treaty Council.
(c) Grounds for Immediate Dismissal.
Any attempt by
biological personnel to circumvent this section or abuse the privileges granted
herein shall be grounds for immediate dismissal from employment with the Tribe
and/or the Treaty Council.
7.02.045 Fishing Vessel Assistance
(a) Assistance from Non-Members Prohibited.
A member of the
Skokomish Indian Tribe shall not allow any non-member not otherwise authorized
by this Ordinance to assist in any treaty fishing activity.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.124(a) -
Allowing Non-Members to Participate or Assist in Tribal Fishing is a Class A
offense]
(b) Non-Members Aboard Fishing Vessel
Prohibited.
A member of the
Skokomish Indian Tribe shall not allow any non-enrolled person not otherwise
authorized pursuant to this Ordinance to be present aboard any fishing vessel
being used in the exercise of treaty fishing rights of the Skokomish Indian
Tribe.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.124(b) -
Allowing Non-Members to be Aboard Vessel While Fishing is a Class B offense]
(c) Assistance from Members of Point No Point
Treaty Tribes Authorized - Limitations.
An enrolled
member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe operating a vessel registered pursuant to
this Ordinance may hire an enrolled member of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe,
the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, or the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe as an
assistant aboard his or her fishing vessel provided:
(1) The vessel is being fished in an area which
is within the usual and accustomed fishing areas of both the Skokomish Indian
Tribe and the assistant's tribe. PROVIDED
such joint arrangements are not lawful within the Skokomish Indian Tribe's
exclusive harvest-use areas, as defined in the Point No Point Treaty Council
Constitution and Off-Reservation Fisheries Management Compact; and
(2) The assistant has in his or her possession
valid identification showing membership in and current eligibility to exercise
the treaty fishing rights of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe, the Jamestown
S'Klallam Tribe, or the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe; and
(3) Any of the fish, shellfish or marine
resources which are caught from the vessel are sold by the Skokomish member
operating the vessel, and he or she uses the embossed Tribal Fishing
Identification Card provided to him or her for this purpose.
(d) Skokomish Members Employed As Assistants -
Requirements.
It shall be
lawful for a member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe to be employed as an
assistant on a fishing vessel legally owned, operated and/or licensed by a
member of another Point No Point Treaty Area Tribe which possesses treaty
fishing rights pursuant to U.S. v.
Washington provided:
(1) The said vessel
is being legally fished within the usual and accustomed fishing area of both
the Skokomish Indian Tribe and the owner/operator's tribe; and
(2) That the
owner/operator is aboard the vessel while it is being fished.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.124(c) -
Violation of Prohibitions for Members Employed as Assistants is a Class B
offense]
(e) Assistance Aboard Non-Members' Fishing
Vessels - Restrictions.
Any member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe employed as an assistant aboard a non-member's
fishing vessel shall not use any cards or permits issued by the Tribe or Treaty
Council to sell any fish, shellfish or marine resources caught by said vessel,
or to allow the sale of any fish, shellfish or marine resources caught by said
vessel to be recorded as caught by a member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
[Cross
reference: Section7.02.126(g) - Members
Selling Fish While on Non-Member Fishing Vessels is a Class A offense]
Required
Identification and Permits
7.02.050 General Requirements
(a) Identification and Permits Required.
Any person
eligible to fish under Sections 7.02.040 through 7.02.045 of this Ordinance who
exercises any treaty fishing (including shellfishing) right or engages in the
sale of fish, shellfish or marine resources shall possess current valid
identification and permits as provided in this section and applicable
regulations. All identification cards
and permit documents shall be issued by the Tribe or Treaty Council and shall
remain the property of the Skokomish Indian Tribe and shall be returned to the
Tribe upon order of the
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(a) - Fishing
Without Obtaining Identification and Permit is a Class B offense; Section
7.02.122(b) - Fishing without Identification and Permits in Possession is a
Class D offense]
(b) Transfer of Permit or Identification
Prohibited.
No person shall
transfer any permit or identification issued to him or her under this Ordinance
to another person for the purposes of allowing the transferee to engage in a
treaty fishery.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(d) - Unauthorized Transfer of Permit or
Identification is a Class B offense]
(c) Examination of Identification and Permits
by Law Enforcement.
Any person
purporting to exercise tribal fishing or shellfishing rights shall produce for
examination the applicable identification cards and fishing permits required by
this Ordinance upon demand of any tribal, state, or federal law enforcement
officer. Failure to produce the required
forms of identification shall be probable cause to believe that such person is
not authorized to exercise tribal fishing or shellfishing rights.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(c) - Failure
to Produce Identification and Permits to Law Enforcement Officers is a Class D
offense]
7.02.051 Tribal Fishing Identification Card
Any person who exercises Skokomish Tribal
fishing or shellfishing rights must have in their possession a valid Tribal
Fishing Identification Card which shall be an embossed identification card issued
by the Skokomish Tribal Fisheries Department for the purpose of identifying the
holder as a member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe and eligible to fish or
shellfish. The card shall show the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I.A.) number of the card holder, his or her
photograph and tribal affiliation, and any other information which the Tribal
Council may require.
[Cross reference: Section 7.02.122(a) - Fishing Without
Obtaining Identification and Permit is a Class B offense; Section 7.02.122(b) -
Fishing without Identification and Permits in Possession is a Class D offense]
7.02.052 Subsistence and Recreational Fishing
(a) Tribal Fishing Identification Card
Required.
Members fishing
or shellfishing for subsistence or recreational purposes must have on their
person a Tribal Fishing Identification Card as provided in Section 7.02.051 and
a subsistence catch reporting card. A
Commercial Fishing Permit is not required.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(a) - Fishing
Without Obtaining Identification and Permit is a Class B offense; Section
7.02.122(b) - Fishing without Identification and Permits in Possession is a
Class D offense]
(b) Subsistence/Catch Reporting Cards.
Each time a
fisherman catches fish and shellfish for non-commercial purposes he or she shall
complete a Subsistence/Catch Reporting Card. The Subsistence Catch Reporting
Card shall be issued free of charge by the Skokomish Tribal Fisheries
Department. The fisherman shall record
his or her catch at the time of catch and must return the card to the Tribal
Fisheries Department within the time period specified by the Fisheries Manager
for each species. A new card will not be
issued until previously issued cards have been returned.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(e) - Failure
to Fill Out and Return Subsistence/Catch Cards is a Class D offense]
(c) Subsistence Catch Limits.
If necessary,
subsistence catch limits may be set by regulation promulgated by the Fisheries
Manager and approved by the Fish Committee.
7.02.053 Commercial Fishing and Shellfish
Harvesting
(a)
Commercial Fishing and Shellfish Harvesting.
Any person
eligible to fish pursuant to this Ordinance, who fishes or harvests shellfish
for commercial purposes or fishes with nets of any kind for any purpose, must
have a Tribal Fishing Identification Card as provided in Section 7.02.051 and a
Commercial Fishing Permit as provided in subsection (b) below and other permits
required by this section.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(b) - Fishing
without Identification and Permits in Possession is a Class D offense]
(b)
Commercial Fishing Permit.
Any person
eligible to fish pursuant to this Ordinance, who fishes, shellfishes or
harvests marine resources commercially or who fishes with a net of any kind for
any purpose, shall obtain an annual tribal Commercial Fishing Permit form the
Skokomish Tribal Fisheries Department, which may be in the form of a sticker
which shall be attached to the fisherman's Tribal Fishing Identification
Card. All such permits shall be
non-transferable and shall expire on April 30 of each year.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(a) - Fishing
Without Obtaining Identification and Permit is a Class B offense; Section
7.02.122(d) - Unauthorized Transfer of Permit for Identification is a Class B
offense]
(c)
Fish Tax and Fines to be Paid Prior to Issuance
of Permits.
A Commercial
Fishing Permit shall not be issued to an otherwise eligible fisherman for a
given year unless and until:
(1) The fisherman has paid all tribal fish and
shellfish taxes due; and
(2) The fisherman has paid all tribal fines in
full or fishing violations levied during the previous seasons; and
(3) Provided there is no
(d)
Permit Fees.
A mandatory
license fee shall be paid prior to the issuance of a Commercial Fishing Permit.
The Fisheries Manager and Fish Committee shall propose the amount of the
license fee within the annual regulations and the amount shall be subject to
the final approval of the Tribal Council.
7.02.054 Ceremonial Fishing
(a) Ceremonial Fishing.
Only enrolled
members of the Skokomish Indian Tribe shall exercise ceremonial fishing
rights. Members fishing or shellfishing
for ceremonial purposes shall have a Tribal Fishing Identification Card as
provided in Section 7.02.051 and a Ceremonial Permit as provided in subsection
(b) below. Each ceremonial fisherman
shall report his or her ceremonial catch to the Fisheries Manager within the
time period specified on the ceremonial permit.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(b) - Fishing
without Identification and Permits in Possession is a Class D offense]
(b)
Ceremonial Fishing Permits.
Members of the
Skokomish Indian Tribe may gather fish and shellfish for ceremonial purposes if
they first obtain a Ceremonial Fishing Permit issued by the Skokomish Tribal
Fisheries Department for that purpose.
Ceremonial fishing shall be done in accordance with the conditions
stated on the permit and in the appropriate ceremonial fishing regulation.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(a) - Fishing
Without Obtaining Identification and Permit is a Class B offense]
7.02.055 Damaged or Lost Fishing Permits and
Tribal Identification Cards
(a) Damaged Permits or Cards.
If a Fishing
Permit or Tribal Identification Card is damaged, the fisherman must present the
damaged card for a free replacement.
(b) Lost Permits of Cards.
If a Fishing
Permit or Tribal Identification Card is lost, the first replacement is free of
charge. If a fisherman loses a second
permit or card during the fishing year, the replacement shall be $5.00. A third replacement shall be $10.00. The fourth replacement shall be $15.00, and
each subsequent loss shall increase by $5.00.
7.02.056 Fisheries Personnel
(a) Biological Personnel Identification Card.
The Biological
Personnel Identification Card shall be issued by the Skokomish Tribal Fisheries
Department to those biological personnel employed by the Tribe or Treaty
Council who are authorized to take and possess fish, shellfish and other marine
resources as may be required in the performance of his or her duties.
(b) Test Fishery Card.
The Test
Fishery Card shall be an embossed card which shall be used for recording the
sale of fish, shellfish or marine resources taken in test fisheries conducted
pursuant to this Ordinance. Control of
the use and possession of the Test Fishery Card shall be the responsibility of
the Fisheries Manager.
(c) Tribal Fishery Card.
The Tribal
Fishery shall be an embossed card which shall be used for recording the sale of
fish, shellfish and other marine resources taken in fisheries specifically
conducted on behalf of and for the benefit of the Tribe or Treaty Council. No such fishery shall occur except as
specifically authorized by appropriate regulations issued pursuant to this
Ordinance. Control of the use and
possession of the Tribal Fishery Card shall be the responsibility of the
Fisheries Manager.
(d) Hatchery
The Hatchery
Sale Card shall be an embossed card which shall be used to record the sale of
surplus or spawned fish taken at tribal enhancement facilities. Control of the use and possession of the
Hatchery Sale Card shall be the responsibility of the Fisheries Manager.
(e) Patrol Confiscation Card.
The Patrol
Confiscation Card shall be an embossed card which shall be used to record the
sale of fish confiscated under authority of this Ordinance. Control of the use and possession of the
Patrol Confiscation Card shall be the responsibility of the Fisheries
Enforcement Officers.
Fishing
Vessel Ownership and Registration
7.02.070 Fishing Vessel Ownership
(a) Fishing Vessel Ownership.
Tribal
fishermen shall exercise treaty fishing rights only on a vessel which is:
(1) Wholly owned by the fisherman, a member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe, or the Treaty Council; or
(2) In the fisherman's custody pursuant to an
approved, legally binding purchase contract as provided for in section (c)
below;
(3) This section shall not apply to tribal
members employed as assistants in accordance with Section 7.02.045 or to tribal
members participating in a test fishery according to Section 7.02.029.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.123(e) -
Exercising Treaty Fishing Rights on Vessel not Owned by the Tribe or Tribal
Member is a Class B offense]
(b) Documentation of Ownership.
Adequate
documentation of ownership shall consist of the following:
(1) Coast Guard documentation/registration or
tribal registration in the name of the Tribe or a tribal member; and
(2) A bill of sale conveying clear title to the
boat to the Tribe or a tribal member; the bill of sale shall show the name and
address of the purchaser and the seller; the purchase price; the make, model,
hull identification number, type, name (if applicable) and length of the boat;
a description of any included gear and equipment; and the date of sale; or
(3) A purchase contract as approved under
subsection (c) below.
(c) Procedure for Approval of Purchase
Contracts.
Each vessel
purchase contract must be approved by the Tribe before the vessel in question
can be used in exercising treaty fishing rights. The procedure for obtaining approval of the
vessel purchase contract shall be as follows:
(1) Application for approval of the contract
shall be made to the Fisheries Manager. The application shall be made by
providing a copy of the purchase contract and any pertinent documents to the
Fisheries Manager.
(2) The Fisheries Manager shall examine the
contract and the submitted documents in order to determine:
(A)
Whether the contract is legally binding on both buyer and seller;
(B)
Whether it has a reasonable likelihood of success, thus insuring that
the vessel will not be returned to the seller; and
(C)
Whether it otherwise meets the requirements of this Ordinance.
(3) The Fisheries Manager shall consult with the
tribal attorney and the Fish Committee in making this determination.
(4) If the Fisheries Manager determines that the
contract is enforceable and meets the requirements of this Ordinance, he shall
approve the contract and authorize the vessel to be registered.
(5) Within two (2) weeks after receiving the
application, the Fisheries Manager shall notify the fisherman whether or not
the purchase contract has been approved.
(6) Any fisherman whose contract has been
disapproved by the Fisheries Manager may appeal the decision pursuant to
section 11 of this Ordinance.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.123(f) - Giving
False Information to Obtain Purchase Contract is a Class C offense; Section 7.02.123(e) - Exercising Treaty
Fishing Rights on Vessel not Owned by the Tribe or Tribal Member is a Class B
offense]
(d) Contracts Where Payment is Percentage of
Catch Prohibited.
No purchase
contract shall be approved if payment on the contract is in the form of a
percentage of the catch.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.123(c) - Fishing
on a Vessel Obtained by a Lease, a Lease Purchase Agreement or
Percentage-of-Catch Agreement is a Class A offense]
(e) Lease and Lease Purchase Agreements
Prohibited.
Lease and
lease-purchase agreements are prohibited.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.123(c) - Fishing
on a Vessel Obtained by a Lease, a Lease Purchase Agreement or
Percentage-of-Catch Agreement is a Class A offense]
7.02.071 Fishing Vessel Registration
(a) Fishing Vessel Registration - Generally.
Except as may
be provided elsewhere in this Ordinance, no member shall exercise treaty
fishing rights using any boat which has not been registered and marked in
accordance to the procedures established by this Ordinance or other procedures
approved by the Tribal Council or Treaty Council. All registration shall expire on April 30 of
each year.
(b) Registration with the Skokomish Indian
Tribe.
Any boat
engaging in a tribal fishery must be registered with the Skokomish Indian Tribe
through the Skokomish Tribal Fisheries Department and must display a WN#
showing proof of registration as agreed between the Tribe and the State of
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(e) - Failure
to Comply with Vessel Registration Requirements is a Class C offense]
(c) Transfer of Vessel Permit Prohibited.
Affixing or
transferring the Annual Registration Sticker to another boat other than the one
for which the sticker was issued is prohibited.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.122(f)]
7.02.072 Use of Tribally Registered Boat by
Unauthorized Person
The owner of a tribally registered boat
shall not allow that boat to be commercially fished by a person not authorized
to do so under this Ordinance.
[Cross reference: Section 7.02.123(d) - Commercial Use of
Vessel by Unauthorized Person is a Class A offense]
7.02.073 Use of Purse Seiner Prohibited
No person shall exercise treaty fishing
rights of the Skokomish Indian Tribe as an owner or operator of a purse seine
boat. This section does not prohibit
employment as a fishing vessel assistant on a purse seiner under Section
7.02.045 of this Ordinance.
Cross reference: Section 7.02.123(a) - Violation of Purse
Seiners Prohibition is a Class A offense]
Specific
Gear Provisions
7.02.080 Marine Drift Nets
(a) Lighting.
All boats and
drift gillnets shall be properly lighted after dusk. Proper boat lighting is defined pursuant to
applicable Coast Guard regulations. In
addition to proper boat lighting, a light is also required at the end of the
drift net furthest from the boat.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(a)(4) -
Failure to properly light Drift Nets is a Class C offense]
(b) Nets to be Attended.
All marine
drift nets must be attended by the fisherman at all times.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.087(a)(3) -
Unattended Nets is a Class C offense]
(c) Length Limits.
In all marine
areas a person shall not fish more than 330 fathoms of a drift gillnet.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(a)(1) -
Violation of Net Length Limits is a Class B offense]
(d) Net Identification - Buoys.
All submerged
nets shall have buoys attached. All
buoys shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Buoys shall be conspicuously marked with the
Tribal Identification Card umber of the fisherman operating the gear;
(2) Buoys shall be marked in such a way that the
fisherman and tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the gear
from the water;
(3) Buoys shall be constructed of durable material
excluding plastic or metal bottles and other containers; and
(4) The buoy line shall be weighted to keep the
buoy line from floating.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(a)(2) -
Violation of Buoy and Net Identification Requirements is a Class C offense]
7.02.081 Marine Set Nets
(a) Marine Set Net Identification Requirements.
All marine set
nets shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)
Marine set nets shall be conspicuously marked at the outermost and
innermost end with the Tribal Fishing Identification Card number of the
fisherman operating the net; and
(2)
Marine set nets shall be marked in such a way that the fisherman and
tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the net from the water.
(3)
All unmarked nets which are unattended, and any fish found in them may
be seized by the fisheries enforcement officers.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127 (b)(1) -
Violation of Net Identification Requirements is a Class C offense]
(b) Lighting.
Lights are
required on all set nets left in marine waters after dusk. All lights must be maintained in working
condition.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(b)(3) -
Failure to Properly Light Set Nets is a Class C offense]
(a) Nets
to be Tended Daily.
All gillnets
shall be tended at least once in every twenty-four (24) hour period, and all
fish captured in the net shall be removed.
(1) The person whose identification is attached
to the net is the person responsible for tending the net.
(2) Failure to move an enforcement marker within
twenty-four (24) hours, according to the instructions on the marker, will raise
a presumption that the net has not been tended.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(b)(2) -
Violation of Tending Marine Set Nets Daily is a Class C offense]
(d) Removal of Nets Upon Closure.
Upon closure of
a fishing area all nets and parts of nets, must be completely removed from the
closed area regardless of the condition of the net.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(b)(4) -
Failure to Remove Nets Upon Closure is a Class C offense
7.02.082 Beach Seines
(a) Mesh and Length Requirements.
Beach seine
nets shall have four inch minimum mesh at the wings, three-and-a-half inch
maximum mesh at the bunt and a maximum length of one hundred sixty five fathoms
(990 feet). The use of power equipment
for retrieval is not permitted.
7.02.083 River Gillnets
(a) Set and Drift Nets Authorized.
Set and drift
nets are authorized for use on the Skokomish river and other rivers and streams
within the usual and accustomed fishing grounds pursuant to the limitations
established within this Ordinance and the annual or emergency regulations
(b) River Gillnet Identification Requirements.
All river
gillnets shall comply with the following identification requirements:
(1)
River set nets shall be conspicuously marked at the outermost and
innermost end with the Tribal Fishing Identification Card number of the fisherman
operating the net and shall be marked in such a way that the fisherman and the
tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the net from the river.
(2) River drift nets shall be conspicuously
marked at one end with the Tribal Fishing Identification Card number of the
fisherman operating the net.
(3) All unmarked nets and any fish found in them
may be seized by the fisheries enforcement officers.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(c)(4) -
Violation of Net Identification Requirements is a Class C offense]
(c) River Gillnet Length Requirements.
All river
gillnets shall comply with the length requirements designated within the annual
or emergency regulations, but under no circumstances shall exceed 55 fathoms in
length, EXCEPT that set nets below the Tacoma City Light power lines may
not exceed 100 fathoms in length.
(d) Other River Set Net Requirements
(1) River Set Nets to be Tended Daily.
All river set
nets shall be tended at least once in every twenty-four hour period, and all
fish captured in the net shall be removed.
(A) The person whose identification is attached
to the set net is the person responsible for tending the net.
(B) Failure to move an enforcement marker within
twenty-four (24) hours, according to the instructions on the marker, will raise
a presumption that the net has not been tended.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(c)(2) -
Violation of Tending Nets is a Class C offense]
(2) River Set Nets to be Spaced 250 Feet Apart.
River set nets
shall be set and no part allowed to be closer than 250 feet from any other set
net, unless specifically authorized by the Fish Committee.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.127(c)(3) -
Violation of Nets to be Spaced 250 Feet Apart is a Class D offense]
(d) River Set Nets Not to
River set nets
shall not be allowed to extend across, or block by any means, more than one
third of the portion of the river which is navigable by salmon. The set net must be adjusted when the water
level drops.
[Cross
reference Section 7.02.127(c)(1) - Nets
Not to
7.02.084 Hook and Line - Subsistence and
Recreational Fishing
(a) Marine Area Limitations.
Non-commercial
hook-and-line fishing by tribal members at usual and accustomed marine fishing
grounds and stations and at on-Reservation marine areas for subsistence and/or
recreational purposes is permitted year round unless closed by annual or
emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this Ordinance.
(b) Freshwater Limitations.
Non-commercial
hook-and-line freshwater fishing by tribal members on the reservation is open
year round unless otherwise specifically closed by regulations adopted pursuant
to this Ordinance. Non-commercial
hook-and-line fishing by tribal members off reservation at usual and accustomed
freshwater grounds and stations for subsistence and/or recreational purposes is
permitted whenever the fishing area is opened by the Washington Department of
Fisheries and Wildlife for all-citizen sports fishermen, unless otherwise
specifically opened or closed by regulations adopted pursuant to this
Ordinance.
(c) Subsistence Fishing with Non-Members.
It shall be
lawful for members to fish aboard boats with hook and line for non-commercial
purposes with non-members likewise fishing, provided that the non-member is
appropriately licensed by the State of Washington and is fishing according to
current State laws and regulations governing sport fishing, and provided
further that the member shall be limited to the same species and catch bag
limits, size restrictions, and gear restrictions as apply to the non-members.
7.02.085 Shellfish - Hand-Held Gear Only
All shellfish, except crab and shrimp,
must be harvested by hand-held gear unless otherwise authorized by regulation.
[Cross reference: Section 7.02.128(b) - Violating Shellfish
Harvesting Gear Prohibitions is a Class C offense]
7.02.086 Shellfish Pots
(a) Crab Pots - Commercial.
The inside diameter of the escape rings or
ports of a commercial crab pot shall not be less than 4 1/4 inches inside
diameter.
(b)
Crab Pots - Personal Use.
A personal-use
crab pot shall have an escape ring or port if the pot entrance does not allow
free exit. The inside diameter of the
escape rings or ports of a personal‑use crab pot shall not be less than
4-1/4 (4-1/8 south of
(c) Shrimp Pots - Commercial.
The following
provisions apply to commercial shrimp pots within
(1) Walls of the pot constructed of square mesh
only that measures less than 7/8-inch on the side of each mesh square;
(2) No minimum mesh size for entry tunnels but
tunnels located on sides of pot only; and
(3) Total of tunnel widths not to exceed one-half
the perimeter of the pot bottom.
(d) Shellfish Pot Identification Requirements.
All unattended
pots shall have buoys attached. All
buoys shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Buoys shall be conspicuously marked with the
Tribal Identification Card number of the fisherman operating the gear;
(2) Buoys shall be marked in such a way that the
fisherman and tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the gear
from the water;
(3) Buoys shall be constructed of durable
material excluding plastic or metal bottles and other containers; and
(4) The buoy line shall be weighted to keep the
buoy line from floating.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.128(a) -
Violation of Buoy and Net Identification Requirements is a Class C offense]
7.02.087 Prohibited Gear and Removal of Gear
(a) Other Gear Prohibited.
All gear types
other than those authorized in this Ordinance are prohibited unless, and until,
they are authorized by regulation.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(d) - Use of
Unauthorized Gear/Prohibited Methods is a Class B offense]
(b) Rented or Leased Gear Ownership Prohibited.
No person shall
exercise any treaty fishing rights of the Skokomish Indian Tribe while using or
in possession of any rented or leased fishing gear.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.123(b) - Use of
Rental or Lease of Fishing Gear is a Class A offense]
(c) Removal of Gear Upon Closure of Season.
Upon closure of
a harvesting season for a fish, shellfish or marine resource species, all gear,
including nets (regardless of condition), buoys, anchors and crosslines, must
be completely removed from the area. No
gear may be placed in an area until the opening of the next harvesting season.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.120(g) - Failure
to Remove Gear at End of Season is a Class B offense; Section 7.02.120(h) - Placing Gear in Marine
Area Before Season Opening is a Class A offense]
7.02.088 Fishery Activities Requiring
Artificial Breathing Apparatus
(a) Training/Safety Class Requirement.
Any person who
wishes to exercise tribal fishing rights by engaging in a fishery activity
requiring artificial breathing apparatus must pass a Tribally approved training
and safety class in compliance with federal and state law. This requirement applies to both divers and
tenders.
(b) Safety Standards.
Any person
engaging in a fishery activity which requires artificial breathing apparatus is
required to follow OSHA safety standards.
In addition, any such person shall wear a properly functioning
"bailment bottle" with ten to fifteen minutes of air for use in an
emergency situation.
(c) Monitoring.
No fishery
activity requiring artificial breathing apparatus may take place without a
monitor delegated by the Tribe within harvest area. The monitor has the authority to shut down
the harvesting activity if he or she determines that a safety risk exists. No marine products may be discarded from any
vessel without the monitor's approval.
(d) Licensing.
All persons
engaging in fishery activity requiring artificial breathing apparatus must obtain
all licenses and permits required by the Tribe.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.129 - All Diving
Violations are Class A offenses; Section 7.02.122(a) - Fishing Without
Obtaining Identification and Permit is a Class B offense]
Catch
Reporting and the
7.02.100
(a)..Sales
to be Reported on Fish Tickets.
All fish,
shellfish and other marine resources caught in commercial fisheries must be
recorded on fish tickets.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(n) - Failure
to Record Sale of Fish on Fish Ticket is a Class B Offense]
(b) Fish to be Sold by Fisherman Who Caught
Them.
A fisherman may
only sell or offer for sale fish, shellfish or marine resources caught by said
fisherman, EXCEPT under the following circumstances:
(1) The fisherman is authorized by the Tribe to
sell or offer for sale fish, shellfish or marine resources owned by the Tribe;
or
(2) The fisherman is acting as an agent on behalf
of other eligible fishermen, PROVIDED
(A) The fisherman notifies the Fisheries Manager
and Fisheries Enforcement Office within a reasonable time of the sale or
proposed sale, the location of the sale and the identity of the buyer;
(B) The sale is properly recorded on fisherman's
fish ticket; and
(C) Within 30 days from the sale, the fisherman
submits in writing to the Fisheries Manager the names of the fishermen and the
amount of the sale attributed to each of the fishermen.
[Cross
reference: Offense - Section 7.02.126(f)
- Sale of Another's Fish is a Class B offense]
(c)
Fishermen may
sell fish, shellfish or marine resources only to approved licensed buyers
pursuant to Section 7.02.103.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(l) -
(d)
Except as may
be provided elsewhere in this Ordinance, no person shall sell, or offer for
sale, any fish, shellfish or marine resources unless taken with lawful
commercial gear in an area specifically opened to commercial fishing with that
gear, and the fisherman has in his or her possession at the time of sale valid
identification and permits as required by this Ordinance.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(i) - Sale of
Fish Without Proper Permits, Cards, Identification and Registration is a Class
C offense; Section 7.02.126(j) - Sale of Fish Taken Unlawfully is a Class B
offense]
(e)
No person shall
sell fish, shellfish or marine resources caught with any vessel which has not
been registered pursuant to this Ordinance.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(i) - Sale of
Fish Without Proper Permits, Cards, Identification and Registration is a Class
C offense]
(f)
Any person
selling fish, shellfish or marine resources which are the property of Tribe or
Treaty Council shall record the sale of the fish, shellfish or marine resources
using the appropriate card as provided in Section 7.02.056(c).
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(i) - Sale of
Fish Without Proper Permits, Cards, Identification and Registration is a Class
C offense; Section 7.02.044(c) - Grounds for Dismissal from Employment with
Tribe]
(g)
No person shall
sell fish, shellfish and other marine resources caught for subsistence and/or
recreational purposes.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(k) - Sale of
Fish Caught for Subsistence or Recreational Purposes is a Class B offense]
(h) "Road Sales" Authorized.
A limited
number of fish, shellfish and other marine resources caught in a commercial
fishery may be sold by the fisherman directly to individuals for the purpose of
personal consumption and not for resale.
The Fish Committee shall recommend and the Tribal council shall adopt
regulations which specify the manner of reporting these sales, the date by
which they must be reported, the limit (number of fish or amount of shellfish
per buyer/per fixed time period) and related regulatory matters. Road sales of certain species may be
prohibited by regulation.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.121(k) -
Violation of Regulations and Permits is a Class C offense]
7.02.101 Completion of Fish Tickets
(a) Identification Card to be Presented to
Buyer/Embossed Buyer's Card to be Used.
Each fisherman
shall present his Tribal Fishing Identification Card or other appropriate card
as provided in this Ordinance to the buyer each time he sells fish, shellfish
or marine resources. The fisherman
selling the fish and/or shellfish shall require the buyer to use a valid
embossed
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(d) - Failure
to Present Embossed I.D. Card is a Class C offense]
(b) Fish Tickets to be Filled out Accurately,
Completely.
It is the
responsibility of each fisherman at the time of each sale of fish, shellfish or
marine resources to be sure that the fish ticket is filled out completely and
accurately. Each fish ticket shall be
signed by the fisherman who caught the fish, shellfish or marine resources
being sold on that ticket, as an acknowledgement that the information on the
ticket is correct; EXCEPT that a fisherman, acting as an agent for other
eligible fishermen pursuant to Section 7.02.100(b) may sign on behalf of such
other eligible fishermen.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(c) - Failure
to fill Out Fish Ticket Accurately and Completely is a Class C offense]
(c) Fish Ticket is Prima Facie Evidence of
Events.
Fish tickets
shall constitute prima facie evidence that the events as recorded on the
tickets actually occurred. Fish tickets
which indicate a violation of this Ordinance or regulations promulgated under
it shall in and of themselves constitute probable cause to believe that a
violation has occurred, and shall be admissible evidence that a violation has
occurred. The embossed appearance of the
identification number of a fisherman or his or her signature on any fish
ticket, including unofficial receipts or proofs of sale, shall be admissible as
prima facie evidence that the fisherman caught and sold the fish reported on
the ticket on or about the date of the ticket.
(d) Providing False Information.
A person shall
not record or provide false information to be recorded on fish tickets.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(h) -
Recording Fish Caught Outside U & A on a Fish Ticket is a Class A offense]
7.02.102 Tax on Fish Sold Commercially
(a) Fish Tax.
There shall be
a tax, called the Tribal Fish and Shellfish Tax, imposed on each sale of fish
and shellfish by anyone exercising commercial fishing rights under the
authority of this Ordinance. The tax
shall be measured by the gross sale price of each sale of fish or shellfish
multiplied by the rates for fish and shellfish as follows:
(1) Salmon:
Five (5) percent
(2) Shellfish:
Five (5) percent
(3) Geoduck exception: The tax on geoduck shall be proposed annually
by the Fish Committee and approved by the Tribal Council.
(b)
Exemption for Road Sales.
Road sales
permitted under this Ordinance shall be exempt from the tribal fish, shellfish
and other marine resources tax requirements of this Ordinance.
(c)
Use of Tax Revenue.
The funds
raised by the Tribal Fish and Shellfish Tax shall be deposited in the Tribal
Fish Tax account and shall be expended at the discretion of the Tribal Council.
(d) Power to Increase/Decrease Fish Tax and
Levy Additional Taxes.
The Tribal
Council retains the power to increase/decrease the fish tax and levy additional
taxes or fees on fish, shellfish, or other marine resources.
(e)
Fisherman Liable for Payment of Tax.
The tribal
fisherman shall be liable for payment of any fish or shellfish tax owed to the
Tribe. The Fisheries Manager, or his staff, shall regularly compute the amount
of tax owed by each tribal fisherman and shall notify each fisherman in writing
of the amount of tax due from him. If a
fisherman fails to make full payment of the amount due within thirty (30) days
from the date of the written notice, he shall be prohibited from exercising
commercial treaty fishing rights and registering any vessel for commercial
fishing until the amount owing is paid in full.
7.02.103 Buyer Licensing and Regulating On
Reservation Fish Buyers
(a) Authority to Restrict Sales to Licensed
Buyers.
The Skokomish
Indian Tribe retains the authority to restrict the sale of tribally caught
fish, shellfish and other marine resources to approved licensed buyers. The Fisheries Manager is hereby authorized to
execute Fish Buyer License Agreements on behalf of the Skokomish Indian Tribe.
(b) Fish Buyer License Agreement.
The Fish Buyer
License Agreement shall contain the conditions by which a fish buyer shall be
authorized to buy fish, shellfish and other marine resources from Skokomish
fishermen on the Reservation. These
conditions may include, but are not limited to, license fees, bonding and other
conditions established by the Fisheries Manager upon recommendation of the
Skokomish Fish Committee. The Fisheries
Manager will consult with the Fish Committee and the tribal attorney regarding
the requirements for fish buyer licensing.
(c) Tribal Member Fish Buyers.
The Fisheries
Manager may direct the issuance of Tribal Fish Buyer identification cards to
enrolled members of the Skokomish Indian Tribe who have properly applied for
and met the requirements for a Tribal Fish Buyer identification card, provided
that such individuals must possess a valid Skokomish Commercial Fishing
Permit. Enrolled tribal members shall be
exempt from dealer and buyer license fee requirements.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(m) -
Purchase or
(d) Power to Regulate.
The Tribal
Council retains the power to regulate the numbers and activities of commercial
fish buyers within the boundaries of the Skokomish Reservation.
(e) Recording of Sales Required.
All fish and
shellfish buyers on the Skokomish Indian Reservation must record sales of fish,
shellfish and other marine resources on approved fish tickets or shellfish
tickets. In recording the sale the buyer
must use an embossed
(f) Proof of Legal Possession.
Fish and
Shellfish buyers on the Skokomish Indian Reservation may be required to provide
proof to Fisheries Enforcement that the product they have in their possession
has been legally obtained.
[Cross
reference: Section 7.02.126(n) - Failure
to Record Fish Sales is a Class B offense or a civil infraction]
Enforcement
7.02.110 Fisheries Enforcement Officers
(a) Appointment.
The Skokomish
Tribal Council hereby:
(1) May enter into an agreement with another
Tribe and/or with the Point No Point Treaty Council whereby the fisheries
enforcement officers of said other tribe and/or the Treaty Council may act as
fisheries enforcement officers for the Skokomish Indian Tribe; and/or
(2) Authorizes the Fisheries Manager to hire
fisheries enforcement officers; and/or
(3) Authorizes the Fisheries Manager to deputize
the Tribe's law enforcement officers to act as fisheries enforcement officers;
and/or
(4) Authorizes the Fisheries Manager to deputize
additional persons to assist in the fisheries enforcement officers in the
performance of their duties.
(b) Authority and Duty.
The fisheries
enforcement officers shall have the authority to:
(1) Enforce the provisions of this Ordinance and
all regulations promulgated under it;
(2) Enforce all warrants issued by the
(3) Regularly patrol the Skokomish Indian Tribe's
usual and accustomed fishing grounds and stations, the Reservation fishing
area, and any other areas where the Skokomish Indian Tribe exercises fishing
and shellfishing rights.
(c)
Cross Deputization.
The Tribal
Council may enter into an agreement with another tribe, the Treaty Council, or
state, federal or county governments providing for the cross-deputization of
fisheries enforcement and/or law enforcement officers.
7.02.111 Complaint or Citation to
(a) Jurisdiction.
The
(b) Rules of Court.
EXCEPT as otherwise
provided in this Ordinance, the Rules of the
(c) Service of Process.
All persons
charged with a violation of this Ordinance or regulations promulgated under it
shall be served a summons and complaint or shall be issued a citation in lieu
of a summons and complaint, to appear and answer said charges before the
(d) Failure to Appear.
In the event of
the failure of any person to appear in
(1) Contempt of Court, except in the case
of a valid bail forfeiture; and
(2) Immediate Suspension of All Fishing
Licenses and Permits issued to the person under this Ordinance for thirty
(30) days without additional hearing.
The
7.02.112
Arrest
(a) Authority.
Pursuant to the
provisions of this section, fisheries enforcement officers shall have the
authority to arrest any person who violates this Ordinance, or regulations
promulgated under it, when:
(1) The offense occurs in the presence of the
arresting officer(s); or
(2) The officer has a warrant signed by the
(A) A real danger to the police or public;
(B) A real danger of evidence being lost; or
(C) Where a suspect of a crime might flee.
(b) Other Detentions.
(1)
Investigatory Detentions.
Fisheries
enforcement officers may make an investigative stop based on reasonable
suspicion that a person has committed and offense.
(2)
Vehicle/Vessel Detentions.
Fisheries
enforcement officers may step any vehicle or vessel based on reasonable
suspicion that the conduct of the occupants is in violation of this Ordinance.
(c) Notification of Rights Upon Arrest.
Immediately
upon arrest, an alleged violator shall be advised of the following:
(1) The charges against him;
(2) That he has a right to remain silent;
(3) That anything he says may be used against him
in court; and
(4) That he has a right to be represented by an
attorney or spokesperson at his own expense.
(d) Copy of Warrant Provided.
If an arrest is
made pursuant to a warrant, the accused shall be given a copy of the warrant at
the time of the arrest or as soon thereafter as possible.
(e) Citation in Lieu of Arrest.
A citation may
be issued by a fisheries enforcement officer, in his discretion, in lieu of
keeping that alleged violator in custody or requiring bail or a bond.
7.02.113 Search And Seizure
(a) Authority.
To enforce the
provisions of this Ordinance and the regulations adopted under it, fisheries
enforcement officers shall have the authority to search and seize any person or
property in compliance with the following provisions.
(b) Search Warrant Requirement.
Except as
otherwise provided below, a fisheries enforcement officer must obtain a valid
search warrant before searching and seizing any fish, shellfish or marine
resources, gear, container, vehicle, boat, tent, camper or searching any place
or premises which may contain evidence of violations of this Ordinance or
regulations adopted or permits issued under it. The
(1) Based upon a showing of probable cause by the
officer through an affidavit setting forth sufficient underlying circumstances;
and
(2) Issued in compliance with the rules of the
(c) EXCEPTIONS to Search Warrant Requirement:
(1) Vehicle/Vessel Search.
(A) Exigent Circumstances.
Due to exigent
circumstances, as defined in Section 7.02.112(a)(2), and based on probable
cause that a vehicle/vessel contains evidence of violations of this Ordinance,
a fisheries enforcement officer may conduct a warrantless search of the vehicle
or vessel.
(B) Inventory Searches.
A fisheries
enforcement officer may search impounded vehicles or vessels without a warrant
or probable cause so long as they follow regular impoundment procedures.
(2) Protective
Search.
A fisheries
enforcement officer may conduct a protective search, without a warrant, of
persons acting in a suspicious or hostile manner. The sole purpose of the search shall be to
disarm the person for the safety of the officer and others.
(3)
Search Incident to a Lawful Arrest.
A fisheries
enforcement officer may conduct a warrantless search of any person who is
lawfully arrested for an alleged violation of this Ordinance or regulations
adopted under it.
(4)
Plain View Doctrine.
A fishery
enforcement officer may make a warrantless seizure under the plain view
exception when the officer:
(A) Has a prior justification for intrusion on
the premises;
(B) Inadvertently discovers evidence of a
violation of this Ordinance;
(C) Has immediate knowledge that the object in
plain view is seizable evidence; and
(D) Can demonstrate some exigency which requires
immediate, warrantless seizure.
(5) Consent.
A fishery
enforcement officer may conduct a valid warrantless search upon a voluntary and
intelligent consent to do so.
(6) Hot Pursuit.
A fishery
enforcement officer in hot pursuit of a person suspected of violating this
Ordinance may make a warrantless search and seizure and pursue the suspect into
private dwellings.
(d) Seizure Upon Arrest or Citation.
Upon arrest or
upon issuance of a citation, the fisheries enforcement officer has the
authority to:
(1) Seize all fish, shellfish and other marine
resources or parts thereof which the officer has reasonable grounds to believe
have been illegal taken or killed by the alleged violator or which have been
illegally bought or sold; and
(2) Seize any gear or other property which the
officer has reasonable grounds to believe has been used in the commission of a
violation.
(e) Seizure - Inventory.
A fisheries
enforcement officer who has seized fish, shellfish or gear pursuant to this
section shall:
(1) Prepare a written inventory of all items
seized which shall be signed by the enforcement officer; and
(2) Provide one (1) copy of the inventory to the
alleged violator, if known, file one (1) copy with the
(f) Seizure -
The arresting
officer shall, as soon as possible, sell all fish, shellfish and other marine
resources seized from the alleged violator in either of the following manners:
(1) The fish, shellfish and other marine
resources shall be sold at the nearest market at the then prevailing price at
the market selected, provided:
(A) All proceeds from the sale shall be
immediately deposited in a special account for the tribal fisheries office;
(B) The accused shall receive a copy of the fish
ticket; and
(C) The proceeds from the sale of seized fish
shall be held until disposed of pursuant to order of the
(2) If a fisheries enforcement officer reasonably
believes that the sale of fish and/or shellfish is not feasible, he may return
the fish and/or shellfish to the harvest area, beach area, or otherwise dispose
of said fish and/or shellfish.
(g) Seizure - Shellfish Taken from Closed
Beach.
Shellfish,
which a fisheries enforcement officer has reason to believe has been taken from
a closed beach or which may be unfit for human consumption, may be returned to
the beach or otherwise disposed of at the officer's discretion.
(h) Seizure - Storage of Seized Property.
All items,
other than fish, shellfish and other marine resources, seized pursuant to this
section shall as soon as practicable be brought to the Tribal Fisheries
Enforcement Office or other place designated by the Fisheries Manager for the
storage of seized property. Seized
property shall be stored in such a manner as to minimize further damage to it
and shall be held until disposed of pursuant to order of the
(i) Seizure - Return of Seized Property,
Proceeds from
Any person
whose property, other than fish, shellfish or other marine resources which has
been seized under the authority of this Ordinance may apply immediately to the
Tribal Court for release of the property.
The
(j) Forfeiture of Seized Property - Upon
Conviction.
When a person
has been convicted of violating a provision of this Ordinance or any regulation
promulgated under it, the
(k) Forfeiture of Seized Property - Owner
Unknown.
In all cases
where it appears the owner of gear or other items seized by Fisheries
Enforcement Officers is unknown, the Tribal Court shall have the power to order
the forfeiture of any article(s) seized. The procedure for forfeiture in such cases
shall be as follows:
(1) The
(A) If the article(s) were seized within the
Skokomish Indian Tribe's exclusive harvest-use areas, as defined in the Point
No Point Treaty Council Constitution and Off-Reservation Fisheries Management
Compact, a copy of the summons and notice shall be posted at the Skokomish
Fisheries Office at the Skokomish Tribal Center.
(B) If the articles were seized outside of the
Skokomish exclusive harvest-use areas, a copy of the summons and notice shall
be posted at all tribal fisheries offices and tribal centers in the Point No
Point Treaty area and at the Treaty Council office.
(2) The summons shall describe the article(s)
seized and shall set a date for a hearing on whether or not the item seized
should be forfeited. The hearing shall
be held at least thirty (30) days from the date the article(s) was seized. Notice shall be posted for at least twenty
(20) days prior to the hearing. (The 20
days may run during the 30-day period.)
(3) An affidavit of the tribal representative
that served the summons and notice of hearing shall be filed with the
(4) The owner of the article seized shall have
the opportunity at the date and time set in the summons to appear before the
(l) Forfeiture - Disposition of Property.
In the event
the
(m) Return of Property Not Forfeited.
Any item seized
by Fisheries Enforcement Officers or proceeds from the sale thereof which are
not forfeited by order of the Tribal Court shall be returned to the person from
whom seized, after the completion of the case and after the fines, if any, have
been paid.
Offenses
7.02.120 General Fishing Violations
(a) Fishing Outside the Usual and Accustomed
Fishing Grounds.
Any person who
purports to exercise the treaty fishing rights of the Skokomish Indian Tribe in
any area which is outside the usual and accustomed fishing grounds of the
Skokomish Indian Tribe, who has not been formally invited to do so by another
Tribe, is guilty of a Class A offense.
(b) Fishing in Closed Area.
Any person who
engages in fishing at any place, at any time, or for any species not
specifically opened by this Ordinance or by annual or emergency regulations, is
guilty of a Class A offense.
[Cross
reference: "Fishing" defined Section 7.02.003(b)(17)]
(c) Unauthorized Test Fishery - Compliance
with Requirements.
Any person is
guilty of a Class B offense who:
(1) Conducts or participates in a test fishery
that has not been authorized by the Fisheries Manager or the Treaty Council; or
(2) Who fails to obey all gear, time, area, and
reporting requirements of the test fishery.
(d) Unauthorized Gear/Prohibited Methods.
Any person who
uses gear, or any method of disabling or capturing fish, shellfish or marine
resources not permitted in this Ordinance or regulations adopted under it,
except as may be required by biological personnel for the purpose of biological
research and management, is guilty of a Class
B offense.
(e) Vandalism of Fishing Gear.
Any person who
willfully and without authorization damages or destroys a fishing net, vessel,
or other fishing or shellfishing gear, not his or her own, is guilty of a Class B offense.
(f) Taking of Fish From Hatcheries and Closed
Areas Prohibited.
Any person not
under the supervision of Tribal Fisheries personnel who takes, or attempts to
take, or who harasses any salmon species from any tribal, state, federal or
Tribally recognized private hatchery facility or from that part of Area 12C
south of a straight line drawn between the Tacoma City Light Powerhouse to
Nalley's Slough, is guilty of a Class A
offense.
(g) Failure to Remove Gear at End of Season.
Any person who
fails to remove buoys, anchors and crosslines from a marine area at the end of
a harvesting season is guilty of a Class
C offense.
(h) Placing Gear in Marine Area Prior to
Season Opening.
Any person who
places buoys, anchors and crosslines in a marine area prior to the opening of a
fishing season is guilty of a Class C
offense. This provision shall not
apply to dive fisheries (geoduck, sea urchin, sea cucumber, etc.).
(i) Littering Prohibited.
Any person who
discards or disposes of any litter or other waste material while engaged in the
exercise of treaty fishing rights or on the way to or form, is guilty of a Class B offense.
(j) Use of Intoxicants Prohibited.
Any person who
exercises or assists in exercising treaty fishing rights while in possession of
or under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is guilt of a Class A offense.
(k) Wasting.
Any person who
fails to properly care for captured fish, shellfish or other marine resources
in such a manner that substantial deterioration in commercial or food value of
the fish, shellfish or marine resource results, is guilty of a Class C offense.
(n) Non-Member Fishing Without Authorization.
Any non-member
(including a non-member spouse) who fishes or who assists in any treaty fishing
activity, when not expressly authorized to do so by this Ordinance, has
committed a civil infraction. Upon finding that the person committed the
infraction, the Court shall impose a civil fine not less than $250.00 and not
to exceed $5,000.00. The fine is
intended to compensate the community for unauthorized use of its resources.
7.02.121 Fisheries Enforcement - Related
Violations
(a) Fishing While Privilege is Revoked or
Suspended.
Any person who
participates in a commercial fishing or shellfishing activity or sells fish,
shellfish or marine resources while his or her fishing privilege is suspended
or revoked or during a time when the Court has ordered a loss of fishing days
is guilty of a Class A offense. Subsistence fishing or shellfishing shall not
be subject to suspension or revocation.
(b) Assault
Any person who
uses or threatens to use force or violence against a Fisheries Enforcement
Officer or any other person is guilty of a Class A offense.
(c) Resisting Arrest.
Any person
willfully resists arrest by use of force or violence or who flees from a
Fisheries Enforcement Officer is guilty of a Class B offense.
(d) Eluding.
Any person who
fails to or refuses to stop a vessel or vehicle after being given a visible or
audible signal by a Fisheries Enforcement Officer is guilty of a Class B offense.
(e) Escape.
Any person who
escapes, attempts escape, or assists another to escape from lawful custody for
any fishing-related or shellfishing-related offense is guilty of a Class B offense.
(f) Obstruction.
Any person who
willfully interferes with or obstructs any Fisheries Enforcement Officer
engaged in the lawful performance of his or her duties is guilty of a Class C Offense.
(g) Interference with Fisheries Management
Personnel.
Any person who
willfully interferes with or prevents fisheries management personnel of the
Tribe, the Treaty Council, or state or federal agencies, from carrying out
their professional management duties is guilty of a Class C offense.
(h) Giving False Information to an Officer.
Any person who
knowingly gives false information to a Fisheries Enforcement Officer is guilty
of a Class B offense.
(i) Failure to Assist an Officer.
Any person who
fails to respond to a request for assistance by any Fisheries Enforcement
Officer is guilty of a Class D offense.
(j) Failure to Appear/Respond.
Any person who
fails to appear and respond to
(k) Violations of Regulations and Permits.
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who
fails to comply with:
(1) Any provision of this Ordinance;
(2) Any Skokomish fishing or shellfishing
regulation; or
(3) The terms or conditions stated on any fishing
or shellfishing permit;
When such
failure has not been specifically designated as an offense under this Ordinance
or which does not carry with it a specific penalty.
(l) Habitual Offender.
Any person who
is convicted of three (3) violations of this Ordinance within a two (2) year
period is guilty of a Class B offense. Class D violations shall not be considered in
determining whether a person is a habitual offender.
7.02.122 Identification, Permit and Vessel
Registration Violations
(a) Fishing Without Obtaining Identification
and Permit.
Any person who
exercises or purports to exercise any treaty fishing or shellfishing right without
first obtaining valid and current tribal identification and permits, as
required in this Ordinance and applicable regulations, is guilty of a Class B offense.
(b) Fishing Without Identification and Permits
in Possession.
Any person who
exercises or purports to exercise any treaty fishing or shellfishing right or
engages in the sale of fish, shellfish or marine resources without having in
his or her possession valid and current tribal identification and permits as
required in this Ordinance and applicable regulations, is guilty of a Class D offense.
(c) Failure to Produce Identification and
Permits to Law Enforcement Officers.
Any person who
fails to produce for examination his or her identification and permits required
by this Ordinance or regulations, upon demand by any tribal, state or federal
law enforcement officer, is guilty of a Class
D offense.
(d) Unauthorized Transfer of Permit or
Identification Prohibited.
Any person who
transfers any permit or identification issued to him or her under this
Ordinance to another person for the purpose of allowing the transferee to
engage in a treaty fishery is guilty of a Class
B offense.
(e) Vessel Registration Requirements - Failure
to Comply.
Any person who
fails to comply with any vessel registration requirement under Section 7.02.071
of this Ordinance or applicable regulations is guilty of a Class C offense.
(f) Transfer of Vessel Permit Prohibited.
Any person who
transfers the vessel or affixes the annual registration sticker to any vessel other
than the one for which the sticker was issued is guilty of a Class B offense.
7.02.123 Fishing Vessel and Gear Ownership
Violations
(a) Purse Seiners Prohibited.
Any person who
exercised treaty fishing rights of the Skokomish Indian Tribe as an owner or
operator of a purse seine vessel is guilty of a Class A offense.
(b) Rental or Lease of Fishing Gear Prohibited.
Except as
otherwise provided in this Ordinance, any person is guilty of a Class A offense who:
(1) Uses or possesses any rented or leased
fishing gear from a non-tribal member while exercising treaty fishing rights;
or
(2) Rents or leases his or her gear to a
non-tribal member.
(c) Fishing on Vessel Obtained by a Lease, a
Lease Purchase Agreement or Percentage-of-Catch Agreement.
Any person who
fishes from a vessel that is subject to a lease, a lease purchase agreement or
a percentage-of-catch agreement is guilty of a Class A offense.
(d) Commercial Use of Vessel by Unauthorized
Person.
Any person who
allows a tribally registered vessel to be commercially fished by a person not
authorized to do so under this Ordinance is guilty of a Class A offense.
(e) Exercising Treaty Fishing Rights on Vessel
not Owned by the Tribe or Tribal Member.
Any person who
engages in any treaty fishing activity from a vessel that is not either wholly
owned by the fisherman, a member of the Skokomish Indian Tribe, or the Treaty
Council, or is in the fisherman's custody pursuant to a legally binding
purchase contract, as approved under Section 7.02.070(c) is guilty of a Class B offense. This prohibition shall not apply to:
(1) A test fishery conducted under this
Ordinance; or
(2) A Skokomish member who is an assistant on a
non-member's fishing vessel as authorized under this Ordinance.
(f) Giving False Information to Obtain
Purchase Contract.
Any person who
provides false information in order to obtain approval of a purchase contract
of a fishing vessel is guilty of a Class
C offense.
7.02.124 Fishing Assistant Violations
(a) Allowing Non-Members to Participate or
Assist in Tribal Fishing.
Any member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe who allows any non-member, not expressly authorized
by this Ordinance, to exercise or assist in the exercise of any tribal fishing
activity is guilty of Class A offense.
(b) Allowing Non-Members to be Aboard Vessel
While Fishing.
Any member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe who allows any non-member, not otherwise authorized
pursuant to this Ordinance, to be present aboard any fishing vessel being used
in the exercise of treaty fishing (including shellfishing) rights of the
Skokomish Indian Tribe is guilty of a Class
B offense.
(c) Members Employed as Assistants -
Prohibitions.
Any member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe who is employed as an assistant on a fishing vessel
owned, operated and/or licensed by a member of another PNPTC Tribe who
possesses treaty fishing rights pursuant to U.S.
v. Washington is guilty of a Class B
offense if:
(1) The owner/operator is not aboard the vessel
while it is being fished; or
(2) The vessel is being fished outside the usual
and accustomed fishing area of both the Skokomish Indian Tribe and the
owner/operator's tribe.
7.02.125 Minors - Violations
(a) Minors to be Accompanied by Adult -
Exceptions.
Any minor who
exercises treaty fishing rights for commercial purposes unaccompanied by an
adult member of the Tribe is guilty of a Class
D offense. This prohibition does not
apply to:
(1) A minor determined to be a head of household
by the Fish Committee determined prior to the minor fishing; or
(2) A minor who has been exempted from this
section by the Fish Committee prior to the minor fishing due to extreme
hardship.
(b) Minors - Time of Day Restrictions.
Any minor who
exercises treaty fishing rights in violation of Section 7.02.042(c) is guilty
of a Class D offense. This prohibition does not apply to:
(1) A minor whose parents have signed a consent
form allowing the minor to fish, shellfish, or harvest marine resources during
the restricted time;
(2) A minor determined to be head of household by
the Fish Committee determined prior to the minor fishing; or
(3) A minor who has been exempted from Section
7.02.042(a)(3) by the Fish Committee prior to the minor fishing due to extreme
hardship; or
(4) A minor who has graduated from high school.
(c) Allowing a Minor to Fish Contrary to
Fishing Ordinance.
Any parent or
guardian of a minor who allows that minor to fish in violation of this
Ordinance is guilty of a Class D offense.
7.02.126 Fish Ticket, Catch Reporting and
(a) Failure to Record
Any person who
sells or offers for sale fish, shellfish or marine resources not recorded on
his or her fish ticket is guilty of a Class
B offense.
(b) Providing False Information on Fish Ticket.
Any person who
knowingly allows false information to be recorded on a fish ticket is guilty of
a Class B offense.
(c) Failure to Fill Out Fish Ticket Accurately
and Completely.
The fisherman's
signature on a fish ticket constitutes an affirmation that the information on
the fish ticket is correct. Any person
is guilty of a Class C offense who:
(1) Fails to fill out his or her fish ticket
completely and accurately and sign his or her fish ticket; or
(2) Allows another to fill out his or her fish
ticket with incomplete or inaccurate information.
(d) Failure to Present Embossed ID Card.
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who:
(1) Fails to present to the buyer at the time of
sale of fish, shellfish or marine resources his or her embossed Tribal Fishing
Identification Card or other embossed card required by this Ordinance or
regulations; or
(2) Allows his or her fish ticket to be filled
out without the imprint from the buyer's valid, embossed
(e) Failure to Fill Out and Return
Subsistence/Catch Cards.
Any person who
engages in subsistence or recreational fishing or shellfishing activity and
fails to fill out and return a Subsistence/Catch Reporting Card or harvest log
to the Tribal Fisheries Department as required by Section 7.02.052(b) is guilty
of a Class D offense.
(f)
Any person who
sells or offers for sale fish, shellfish or marine resources caught by another,
unless expressly authorized by the Ordinance or fishing/shellfishing
regulations, is guilty of a Class B
offense. This provision shall not
apply to a fisherman acting as an agent on behalf of other eligible fishermen
pursuant to Section 7.02.100(b)(2).
(g) Members Selling Fish While on Non-Member
Fishing Vessels Prohibited.
Any member of
the Skokomish Indian Tribe who is employed as an assistant aboard a
non-member's fishing vessel who uses any cards or permits issued by the Tribe
or Treaty Council to sell any fish, shellfish or marine resources caught by
that vessel, or allows the sale of any fish, shellfish or marine resources
caught by that vessel to be recorded as caught by a member of the Skokomish
Indian Tribe, is guilty of a Class A
offense.
(h) Recording Fish Caught Outside the U. and
A. on a Fish Ticket.
Unless
authorized by this Ordinance, regulations adopted under it, or agreements
entered pursuant to it, any person who allows fish, shellfish or marine
resources to be recorded on a fish ticket as caught by a member of the Tribe,
when the fish, shellfish or marine resources have been caught outside of the
usual and accustomed fishing grounds of the Skokomish Indian Tribe is guilty of
a Class A offense.
(i)
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who
shall sell or offer for sale any fish, shellfish or marine resources:
(1) Without the proper, valid identification and
permits as required by this Ordinance; or
(2) Caught in a test fishery and not recorded on
a test fishery card; or
(3) Which are the property of the Tribe or Treaty
Council, without properly recording the sale using the proper card under
Section 7.02.056(c) of this Ordinance; or
(4) Caught with any vessel which has not been
registered in compliance with this Ordinance.
(j)
Any person who
shall sell or offer for sale any fish, shellfish or marine resources taken with
commercial gear in an area not specifically opened to commercial fishing with
that gear is guilty of a Class B offense.
(k)
Any person who
shall sell or offer for sale any fish, shellfish or marine resources caught for
subsistence or recreational purposes is guilty of a Class B offense.
(l)
Any person who
sells fish, shellfish or marine resources to any buyer who has been prohibited
from buying fish from tribal members is guilty of a Class C offense.
(m) Purchase in Violation of Tribal Regulation.
Any person who
buys fish, shellfish or other marine resources contrary to Tribal regulations
restricting the sale of tribally caught fish to approved licensed buyers or
contrary to the conditions by which a fish buyer shall be authorized to buy
from tribal fishermen is guilty of a Class
B offense or a civil violation
subject to fine not to exceed $1000.
(n) Failure to Record Fish Sales.
Any person who
buys fish, shellfish or other marine resources on the Skokomish Reservation and
fails to record such sales as required by Section 7.02.103(e) of this Ordinance
is guilty of a Class B offense or a
civil violation subject to a fine not to exceed $1000.
7.02.127 Net Violations
(a) Marine Drift Net Violations
(1) Violation of Net Length Limits.
Any person who
fishes more than 330 fathoms of a marine drift gillnet in any area is guilty of
a Class B offense. "Fishes," for purposes of this
section only, does not include any portion of the net or parts of nets joined
together which are not actually in the water.
(2) Buoy and Net Identification Requirements.
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who
fishes with a marine drift gillnet without a buoy attached which:
(A) Is conspicuously marked with the Tribal
Identification card number of the fisherman operating the gear;
(B) Is marked in such a way that a fisherman and
the tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the gear from the
water;
(C) Is constructed of durable material excluding
plastic or metal bottles or other containers;
(D) Has weighted buoy line to keep it from
floating; and
(E) Meets all other requirements set by
regulation.
(3) Unattended Nets.
Any person who
leaves his or her marine drift gillnet unattended is guilty of a Class C offense.
(4) Failure to Properly Light Drift Nets.
Any person
fishing after dusk who fails to keep lighting on his or her boat and at the end
of the drift net furthest from the boat is guilty of a Class C offense.
(b) Marine Set Net Violations.
(1) Net Identification Requirements.
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who
fishes with a marine set net that is not:
(A) Conspicuously marked at the outermost
(seaward) and innermost ends with the Tribal Identification Card number of the
fisherman operating the gear; and
(B) Marked in such a way that the fisherman and
the tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the gear from the
water.
(2) Marine Set Nets to be Tended Daily.
Any person who
fails to tend his marine set net and remove all fish captured in the net at
least once in every twenty-four hour (24 hr.) period is guilty of a Class C offense.
(3) Failure to Properly Light Marine Set Nets.
Any person who
fails to maintain working lights on any marine set nets left by the fisherman
in marine waters after dusk has committed a Class C offense.
(4) Failure to Remove Nets Upon Closure.
Any person who,
upon closure of a fishing area, fails to completely remove all nets and parts
of nets, buoys, anchors and crosslines, regardless of the condition of the
gear, is guilty of a Class C offense.
(c) River Gillnet Violations.
(1) Nets Not to
Any person who
allows a set net to extend across or block, by any means, more than one third
of the portion of the river which is navigable by salmon is guilty of a Class B offense.
(2) Nets to be Attended.
Any person who
fails to tend his or her river gillnet and remove all fish captured in the net
at least once in every twenty-four hour (24 hr.) period is guilty of a Class C offense.
(3) Nets to be Spaced 250 Feet Apart.
Any person who
sets or allows any part of any river gillnet to drift closer than 250 feet to
any other gillnet is guilty of a Class D
offense.
(4) Net Identification Requirements.
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who
fishes with a river gillnet that is not:
(A) Conspicuously marked at the outermost and
innermost ends with the Tribal Identification Card number of the fisherman
operating the net; and
(B) Marked in such a way that the fisherman and
the tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the net from the
water.
(d) General Net Violations.
(1) Attaching Nets to Tribal Structures
Prohibited.
Any person who
attaches a net to the Tribe's pier, salmon pens or other aquaculture
project-related structure without authorization of the Fisheries Manager, is
guilty of a Class D offense.
(2) Violation of Special On-Reservation Net
Fishing Regulations.
Any person who
violates any regulation for on-Reservation net fishing is guilty of a Class C offense.
7.02.128 Shellfish Violations
(a) Buoy and Net Identification Requirements.
Any person is
guilty of a Class C offense who
fishes with, or sets a shellfish pot for fishing and fails to attach a buoy to
the port as follows:
(1) Conspicuously marks the buoy with the Tribal
Identification Card number of the fisherman operating the gear;
(2) Marks the buoy in such a way that the
fisherman and the tribal affiliation can be identified without removing the
gear from the water;
(3) Constructs the buoy of durable material
excluding plastic or metal bottles or other containers; and
(4) Has a weighted buoy line to keep it from
floating.
(b) Shellfish Harvesting Gear Prohibitions.
Any person who
harvests shellfish, not including crab and shrimp, using any gear other than
hand held gear, unless authorized by this Ordinance or by regulation is guilty
of a class C offense.
(c) Shellfishing in Closed Area.
Any person who
engages in shellfishing at any place, at any time, or for any species not
specifically opened by this Ordinance or by annual emergency regulations is
guilty of a Class A offense.
(d) Shellfish From Polluted Beach -
Prohibitions.
Any person is
guilty of a Class A offense who:
(1) Takes shellfish from a polluted beach;
(2) Transfers, transports, offers for sale, or
sells shellfish from a polluted beach; or
(3) Attempts any conduct prohibited under this
section.
(e) Exception.
This section
shall not apply to the relay of shellfish from a polluted beach to a clean
beach when authorized by the Fisheries Manager.
7.02.129 Diving Violations
(a) Diving Without Training and Safety Class.
Any person who
engages in a treaty fishing activity requiring artificial breathing apparatus
without passing a tribally approved training and safety class is guilty of a Class A offense.
(b) Failure to Follow Safety Standards.
Any person who
fails to follow OSHA safety standards while engaging in a fishery activity
requiring artificial breathing apparatus is guilty of a Class B offense.
(c) Diving Without a Monitor.
Any person who
engages in a fishery activity requiring artificial breathing apparatus without
a tribally approved monitor in the harvest area, or who fails to follow the
instructions of a monitor in the harvest area, is guilty of a Class A offense.
Sentencing
Guidelines
7.02.140 Classification of Offenses for
Sentencing and Bail
The following are the ranges of fines for
each class of offense:
Class D Class
C Class
B Class
A
$25-$100 $100-$250 $250-$1,000 $500-$5,000
7.02.141 Sentencing Guidelines