Commercial sea urchin fishery

For green urchin in District 1, the quota will be reached after this week, and it will be closed on Monday January 6th. New regulations will be updated next week.

For green urchin in District 2, the quota may be increased by up to 50% based on the recent stock assessment survey pending tribal co-manager agreement. District 2 could reopen for harvest sometime in mid-January. 

Red urchin harvest is planned to open in all areas on Monday January 6th. Updated regulations below.

WDFW-managed state sea urchin quota shares and preliminary landings for the 2024-2025 season:

Green urchins

Sea Urchin Harvest Area2024-25 State Share (pounds)Preliminary Landings (pounds)
District 1 (San Juan Island Area)87,91985,000
District 2 (Admiralty Area)40,00037,941 (CLOSED)
District 3 & 4 & 5 (Strait Area, including Neah Bay)50,00031,250
Districts 6 & 7 (South/Central Puget Sound Area)25,00022, 826 (CLOSED)

Red urchins

Sea Urchin Harvest Area2024-25 State Share (pounds)Preliminary Landings (pounds)
District 1 (San Juan Island Area)57,000(OPENS 1/6)
District 2 (Admiralty Area)13,000(OPENS 1/6)
District 3 (Port Angeles Area)66,635(OPENS 1/6)
District 4 (Sekiu Area)45,921(OPENS 1/6)
District 5 (Neah Bay Area)27,605(OPENS 1/6)


Regulations:  

   WAC 220-340-75000K   Commercial sea urchin fisheries.

   Effective January 6, 2025, 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:

 

  1. 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.
  2. The following areas are open for red sea urchin harvest, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5. 
  3. The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 3, District 4, District 5.
  4. It is unlawful for any harvester to fish for, take, or possess for commercial purposes more than 1,500 pounds per species of red sea urchin or green sea urchin per license for each weekly fishery opening period.

 

 

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Sea urchin harvest districts

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