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Whatcom County Public Works

Recreational Shellfish Harvesting

Puget Sound has over 1000 areas available where the public can harvest shellfish recreationally. While this is a great resource, people need to educate themselves and follow a few simple rules in order to insure that the resource continues to be available and to protect their own health and safety.

Washington State requires that anyone harvesting from these public areas obtain a license to harvest. The license must be worn when harvesting.

As a recreational harvester, it is your responsibility to:

Know What You Can Harvest

Check the regulations for:

• Daily limits
• Size limits
• Descriptions of shellfish

  State Department of Health: (360) 236-3330
  State Department of Fish and Wildlife: 1-866-880-5431
  Whatcom County Health: (360) 676-6724

Recreational Shellfish Harvesting Fact Sheet

Know Where You Can Harvest

• Check closure listings.
• Check for closure signs or other posted notices.
• Respect private property.
• Call the Marine Biotoxin Hotline (1-800-562-5632) for paralytic shellifsh poisoning (PSP, or red tide) closures.

  State Department of Health: (360) 236-3330
  State Department of Fish and Wildlife: 1-866-880-5431

  Marine Biotoxins Could Ruin Your Shellfish Experience

Know When You Can Harvest

• Times that shellfish can be harvested varies by type of shellfish as well as by area.

  State Department of Health: (360) 236-3330
  State Department of Fish and Wildlife: 1-866-880-5431

Know How to Preserve the Resource

• Replace undersized shellfish properly, to insure their survival.
• Harvest shellfish using the proper tools and techniques.
• Carry out any trash.
• Tread carefully in fragile marine ecosystems.
• Don't take undersize (smaller than regulation size) shellfish or exceed your daily limit--this depletes the growing stock.

Know How to Protect Your Health

• Fill your holes when you are finished digging (open holes present a tripping hazard).
• Keep your shellfish chilled.
• Cook all shellfish thoroughly to kill bacteria.
• Don't harvest shellfish from areas closed due to pollution or marine biotoxins. Eating shellfish from these areas can result in illness or even death.
• Do not consume shellfish that does not close up its shell when alive or does not open its shell during the cooking process.

Marine Biotoxins Could Ruin Your Shellfish Experience

Private Tideland Owners

Owners of tideland property and their immediate family members are not required to obtain a license to harvest shellfish from their private tidelands. There is also no daily limit set on harvesting from your own tidelands.