For green urchin in Districts 3 and 4, the quota has been reached and it will be closed immediately. Standby for updated regulations.
For red urchin in District 2, there are 4000 pounds of quota remaining. Harvesters, please contact me directly before planning a trip in this area.
Harvest quotas and landings
WDFW-managed state sea urchin quota shares and preliminary landings for the 2022-2023 season:
Green urchins
Sea Urchin Harvest Area | 2022- 23 State Share (pounds) | Preliminary Landings (pounds) |
---|---|---|
District 1 (San Juan Island Area) | 150,000 | 91,250 |
District 2 (Admiralty Area) | 40,000 | 38,566 (CLOSED) |
District 3 & 4 (Strait Area, excluding Neah Bay) | 50,000 | 49,553 (CLOSED) |
District 5 (Neah Bay Area) | CLOSED | CLOSED |
Districts 6 & 7 (South/Central Puget Sound Area) | 25,000 | 27,090 (CLOSED) |
Red urchins
Sea Urchin Harvest Area | 2022-23 State Share (pounds) | Preliminary Landings (pounds) |
---|---|---|
District 1 (San Juan Island Area) | 83,862 | 54,000 |
District 2 (Admiralty Area) | 13,000 | 8,500 |
District 3 (Port Angeles Area) | *63,204 | 33,250 |
District 4 (Sekiu Area) | *42,608 | - |
District 5 (Neah Bay Area) | CLOSED | CLOSED |
Regulations
WAC 220-340-75000R Commercial sea urchin fishery.
Effective January 23, 2023, until further notice, the provisions of WAC 220-340-750 regarding commercial harvest of sea urchins shall be modified as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-340-750 not addressed herein remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:
- It is unlawful for any person to fish for, take, or possess for commercial purposes any green sea urchins less than 2.25 inches; or red sea urchins measuring less than 3.25 inches or greater than 5 inches. All measurements are caliper measurements of the largest shell (test) diameter, exclusive of the spines.
- The following areas are open for red sea urchin harvest only, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 2, District 3, and District 4.
- The maximum cumulative landings for red sea urchins for each weekly fishery opening period is 1,500 pounds per valid designated sea urchin harvest license.
- The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest only, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 3, and District 4.
- The maximum cumulative landings for green sea urchins for each weekly fishery opening period is 2,500 pounds per valid designated sea urchin harvest license.
Closed areas pertain to the commercial sea urchin fishery. In addition, see permanent WACs 220-302 and 220-303 for more information on Marine Preserves and Conservation Area closures. Legal descriptions of commercial sea urchin harvest districts are found in WAC 220-340-750: Sea Urchins. Legal descriptions of commercial sea urchin catch reporting areas can be found in WAC 220-301-040: Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas within Puget Sound.
Permanent WACs
- 220-340-030: Shellfish Harvest Logs
- 220-340-750: Permanent Sea Urchin Fishing Regulations
- 220-305: Fish Rules of General Application
- 220-320: Shellfish - Definitions, Classifications and General Rules
- 220-353: General Commercial Fishery Rules
- 220-340-040: Sale of Commercially Caught Shellfish
- 220-352: Fish Receiving Tickets, Sales, Commercial Duties, and Recordkeeping
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