The quota for green sea urchin in District 2 may be taken by the end of this week, and it will be closed as of Monday October 25. The remaining pounds are uncertain due to a buyer’s failed quick reports and ticket submissions, standby for an update after this is solved.
Harvest quotas and landings
WDFW-managed state sea urchin quota shares and preliminary landings for the 2021-2022 season:
Green urchins
| Sea Urchin Harvest Area | 2021- 22 State Share (pounds) | Preliminary Landings (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 (San Juan Island Area) | 135,000 | 4,000 |
| District 2 (Admiralty Area) | 40,000 | 35,000 |
| District 3 & 4 (Strait Area, excluding Neah Bay) | 50,000 | 3,000 |
| District 5 (Neah Bay Area) | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Districts 6 & 7 (South/Central Puget Sound Area) | 25,000 | - |
Red urchins
| Sea Urchin Harvest Area | 2021-22 State Share (pounds) | Preliminary Landings (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 (San Juan Island Area) | 132,000 | - |
| District 2 (Admiralty Area) | 12,258 | - |
| District 3 (Port Angeles Area) | 57,633 | - |
| District 4 (Sekiu Area) | 28,750 | - |
| District 5 (Neah Bay Area) | CLOSED | CLOSED |
Regulations
WAC 220-340-75000F Commercial sea urchin fishery.
Effective October 25, 2021, 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 green sea urchin harvest only, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 2 Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B, 23A, District 3 east of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123° 52.7'W longitude to the international border, District 4 west of a line projected true north from the shoreline at 123° 48.3'W longitude to the international border, District 6, and District 7 except all waters of Hale Passage and Wollochet Bay within the following lines: west and north of a line starting at Point Fosdick following longitude 122° 35'W southward to latitude 47° 14'N thence true west to Fox Island, and east and north of a line starting at Green Point following longitude 122° 41'W southward to latitude 47° 16.5'N thence true east to Fox Island.
- The maximum cumulative landings for green sea urchins for each weekly fishery opening period is 1,500 pounds per valid designated sea urchin harvest license. Each fishery week begins Monday and ends Sunday.
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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