Commercial shrimpers off the Washington coast harvest large numbers of this species. They are also found in southern Puget Sound, through they are occasionally captured in northern Puget Sound too.
Description and Range
Physical description
Ocean Pink Shrimp are an oceanic shrimp uniformly pink in color lacking any spots or stripes. They have large bulbous eyes and a rostrum that is 1.5 to 2 times longer than their carapace. Their tail segments are smooth lacking any dorsal spines.
Ocean Pink Shrimp are very similar to Northern Pink Shrimp with Northern Pink Shrimp having a small spine on top of the third tail segment
Ocean Pink Shrimp can grow to a maximum of 15 cm (6 in) in length and 4 years in age.
Geographic range
Ocean Pink Shrimp range from Alaska in the north to Baja California in the south. They occur on soft mud or sand bottoms from 36 to 457 m (118-1500 ft) in depth, usually from 91 to 201 m (300-660 ft).
Regulations
Licenses and permits
Shrimpers age 15 and older must have an annual shellfish/seaweed, combination or Fish Washington license. Licenses can be purchased online, by telephone at 866-246-9453, or at hundreds of license dealers across the state.
Rules and seasons
Shrimp Daily Limits and Rules
- Spot (Pandalus platyceros)
- Coonstripe (P. danae and P. hypsinotus)
- Pink (P. eous and P. jordani)
Puget Sound and Hood Canal
(Marine Areas 5-13 and Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line).
Please see the regulations by marine area page for harvest dates and specific details.
Daily limit of 10 pounds, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined (maximum of 80 spot shrimp, if open for spot shrimp).
If retaining only spot shrimp, then shrimp heads may be removed and discarded in the field.
If retaining any shrimp species other than spot shrimp, then shrimp heads may be removed but must be retained while in the field, until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh unless the area is closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, then the minimum size for shrimp pots is 1/2" mesh (see current gear rules).
In areas closed for spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, all spot shrimp caught must be returned to the water immediately.
Pacific Ocean
(Marine Areas 1-3 and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line)
Pacific Ocean shrimp grounds are located a considerable distance from shore (30 miles or more) and as a result are generally inaccessible by the casual sport fisher.
DAILY LIMIT OF 25 POUNDS, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined (maximum of 200 spot shrimp).
Shrimp heads may be removed, but must be retained while in the field, until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
The minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is 1" mesh (see current gear rules).
All areas
Each harvester must have a separate container for their catch, either in their possession or identified with their name.
No minimum carapace size.
Maximum of two shrimp pots per person and no more than four shrimp pots per boat.
Prior to harvesting, check the Shellfish Rule Change free Hotline 866-880-5431 or check the online Emergency fishing and shellfishing rules page for season closures and restrictions.