Washington Dept. of Fish and WildlifeSHELLFISH REGULATIONS
Commercial Sea Urchins

Urchin Districts


    NOTE: The information on this webpage may not be the most current information regarding the commercial Sea Urchin fishery. The most current information can be obtained by calling the Sea Urchin Information Hotline message. This message can be heard by phoning toll free 1-866-207-8223, or by dialing the Olympia local number, (360) 902-2829.

    Commercial Sea Urchin Dive Fishery Information - Last updated on Friday, May 09, 2008

    Sea Urchin Regulations

    The current emergency regulation for the 2007-08 non-Indian commercial sea urchin fishery follows:

    WAC 220-52-07300W Sea Urchins.

    Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-52-073, effective immediately until further notice, it is unlawful to take or possess sea urchins taken for commercial purposes except as provided for in this section:

    (1) Red sea urchins: Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 are open only on Sunday through Friday of each week. In Sea Urchin Districts 1 and 2 it is unlawful to harvest red sea urchins smaller than 4.0 inches or larger than 5.5 inches (size in largest test diameter exclusive of spines).

    (2) It is unlawful to dive for any purpose from a commercially licensed sea urchin fishing vessel on Saturday of each week, except by written permission from the Director.

    Season Recommendations

    Commercial non-Indian green sea urchin harvest is closed statewide for the 2007-2008 harvest management period. Commercial non-Indian red sea urchin harvest remains closed in Sea Urchin District 4, the Sekiu area, for the 2007-2008 harvest management period. District 3 red urchins and District 5 red and green urchins remain closed pending recovery of depressed stocks.

    Harvest Quotas and Landings

    Non-Indian sea urchin quota shares and preliminary landings for the 2007-2008 season are listed in the table below:

    Sea Urchin
    Harvest Area    		 2007-08 State
    Share (pounds)    		 Preliminary
    Landings (pounds)
    Green Urchins, Districts 1 & 2 (San Juan Island Area):
    175,000
    174,429(closed)
    Green Urchins, District 3 & 4 (Strait Area, excluding Neah Bay):
    50,000
    600(closed)
    Green Urchins, District 5 (Neah Bay Area):
    Closed until further notice
    Closed until further notice
    Green , Districts 6 & 7 (South/Central Puget Sound Area):
    25,000
    3,867(closed)
    Red Urchins, Districts 1 & 2 (San Juan Island Area):
    174,450
    165,079
    Red Urchins, District 3 (Port Angeles Area):
    Closed until further notice
    Closed until further notice
    Red Urchins, District 4 (Sekiu Area):
    43,227
    42,162(closed)
    Red Urchins, District 5 (Neah Bay Area):
    Closed until further notice
    Closed until further notice

    Shellfish harvest logs. WAC:220-52-075 
    Permanent Urchin fishing regs WAC:220-52-073
    General provisions -- Lawful and unlawful acts -- Salmon, other food fish and shellfish. WAC:220-20-10
    General provisions -- Shellfish. WAC:220-20-025
    Unlawful sale of food fish and shellfish. WAC:220-20-012
    Sale of commercially caught shellfish. WAC:220-20-026


    Find a bug or error in the system? Let us know about it!
    © 2003 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
    E-mail <webmaster@dfw.wa.gov>