It’s geoduck harvest time.

Click to enlarge.

Wondering about the geoduck harvest that’s been going on for the last several weeks? Here’s a response to a recent inquiry from a South Beach neighbor by Viviane Barry, Shellfish Program Manager for The Suquamish Tribe…

Please (see the attached) map of the different geoduck tracts (sub-tidal areas commercially fished between -18’ (or -25’) to -70’ mean lower low water) in your area. The tract Suquamish divers are currently harvesting is Restoration Point (07850).

The 2011-12 sub-regional harvest share for Suquamish is 148,284 pounds, which will be harvested mostly off of Restoration Point. Suquamish has harvested 69,889 pounds as of June 26 during 24 harvest days. We typically send 1-3 harvest boats on a tract at a time. I estimate that we have approximately 21-22 days of harvest remaining in this area for the year.

Various factors can affect this estimate: product market value, ability of harvesters to gather geoduck (density lowers as harvest goes on) and environmental conditions (PSP toxins and other conditions that may close a shellfish harvest area).

Based on pre-fishing biomass information, it will take at least 5 years to harvest this tract down to the agreed management threshold. More if the annual quota is not taken completely by all parties or harvested off other tracts in the sub-region, less if the quota increases in this sub-region and harvest is concentrated on this tract.

I encourage you to contact your representatives at the shellfish divisions of WDNR or WDFW if you would like additional information on harvest management practices.

Best Regards,
Viviane Barry
Shellfish Program Manager
The Suquamish Tribe