The following information
relating to fish and wildlife is exempt from disclosure under
this chapter:
(1) Commercial fishing catch data from logbooks required to
be provided to the department of fish and wildlife under RCW 77.12.047, when the data identifies specific catch location,
timing, or methodology and the release of which would result in
unfair competitive disadvantage to the commercial fisher
providing the catch data, however, this information may be
released to government agencies concerned with the management of
fish and wildlife resources;
(2) Sensitive fish and wildlife data. Sensitive fish and
wildlife data may be released to the following entities and their
agents for fish, wildlife, land management purposes, or
scientific research needs: Government agencies, public
utilities, and accredited colleges and universities. Sensitive
fish and wildlife data may be released to tribal governments.
Sensitive fish and wildlife data may also be released to the
owner, lessee, or right-of-way or easement holder of the private
land to which the data pertains. The release of sensitive fish
and wildlife data may be subject to a confidentiality agreement,
except upon release of sensitive fish and wildlife data to the
owner, lessee, or right-of-way or easement holder of private land
who initially provided the data. Sensitive fish and wildlife
data does not include data related to reports of predatory
wildlife as specified in RCW 77.12.885. Sensitive fish and
wildlife data must meet at least one of the following criteria of
this subsection as applied by the department of fish and
wildlife:
(a) The nesting sites or specific locations of endangered
species designated under RCW 77.12.020, or threatened or
sensitive species classified by rule of the department of fish
and wildlife;
(b) Radio frequencies used in, or locational data generated
by, telemetry studies; or
(c) Other location data that could compromise the viability
of a specific fish or wildlife population, and where at least one
of the following criteria are met:
(i) The species has a known commercial or black market
value;
(ii) There is a history of malicious take of that species
and the species behavior or ecology renders it especially
vulnerable;
(iii) There is a known demand to visit, take, or disturb the
species; or
(iv) The species has an extremely limited distribution and
concentration; and
(3) The personally identifying information of persons who
acquire recreational licenses under RCW 77.32.010 or commercial
licenses under chapter 77.65 or 77.70 RCW, except name, address
of contact used by the department, and type of license,
endorsement, or tag; however, the department of fish and wildlife
may disclose personally identifying information to:
(a) Government agencies concerned with the management of
fish and wildlife resources;
(b) The department of social and health services, child
support division, and to the department of licensing in order to
implement RCW 77.32.014 and 46.20.291; and
(c) Law enforcement agencies for the purpose of firearm
possession enforcement under RCW 9.41.040.
[2007 c 293 § 1; 2005 c 274 § 423.]