August 13, 2021
Action: Recreational crab opening in Marine Area 7 North delayed until August 21
Sub-area 7 North (Those waters of Marine Area 7 north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island) will open for personal use starting on Saturday August 21 through Monday August 23, and remain open Thursday through Monday each week through September 27. Starting September 28, the season schedule will transition to 7 days per week to make up for opportunity lost by the delayed season start.
Species affected: Dungeness crab, red rock crab, tanner crab.
Locations: Puget Sound, Marine Area 7.
Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers have agreed to delay the opening of this fishery to provide additional time for tribal co-managers to plan and prosecute fisheries. Following the recent passing of the greatly respected tribal leader Lorraine Loomis, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community fisheries director and Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission chairperson, WDFW managers have agreed to delay the recreational crab opening in Marine Area 7 North out of respect to the tribal community related to services honoring Director Loomis.
Additional information: The daily limits in all open Marine Areas is five crabs per day for Dungeness crabs, six crabs per day for Red Rock crabs, and six crabs per day for Tanner crabs. All Dungeness crabs retained through Labor Day must be recorded on a summer catch record card. Crabs that are retained after Labor Day must be recorded on a winter catch record card.
Information contact: Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager, (360)902-2705, or Aaron Dufault, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager, (360) 902-2791.
Sub-area 7 North (Those waters of Marine Area 7 north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island) will open for personal use starting on Saturday August 21 through Monday August 23, and remain open Thursday through Monday each week through September 27. Starting September 28, the season schedule will transition to 7 days per week to make up for opportunity lost by the delayed season start.
Species affected: Dungeness crab, red rock crab, tanner crab.
Locations: Puget Sound, Marine Area 7.
Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers have agreed to delay the opening of this fishery to provide additional time for tribal co-managers to plan and prosecute fisheries. Following the recent passing of the greatly respected tribal leader Lorraine Loomis, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community fisheries director and Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission chairperson, WDFW managers have agreed to delay the recreational crab opening in Marine Area 7 North out of respect to the tribal community related to services honoring Director Loomis.
Additional information: The daily limits in all open Marine Areas is five crabs per day for Dungeness crabs, six crabs per day for Red Rock crabs, and six crabs per day for Tanner crabs. All Dungeness crabs retained through Labor Day must be recorded on a summer catch record card. Crabs that are retained after Labor Day must be recorded on a winter catch record card.
Information contact: Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager, (360)902-2705, or Aaron Dufault, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager, (360) 902-2791.