Washington's Wildstock Geoduck Fishery
Since 1969, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has jointly managed the geoduck fishery in the state with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Puget Sound Treaty Indian Tribes (Tribes).
The state and Tribes each have a right to 50 percent of the sustainable, allowable geoduck catch. Both are responsible for estimating geoduck population size, determining sustainable yield, and protecting the health of the geoduck stock and the habitat they depend upon.
DNR manages the submerged aquatic lands in which the wild geoduck grow, and offers at public auctions the right for private businesses to harvest specific quantities from specific areas.
Goals for the State’s Geoduck Program
- Encourage a stable and orderly harvest.
- Provide maximum benefits of geoduck resources to the citizens of the state.
- Minimize adverse impacts to shoreline residents.
- Ensure effective enforcement of the state harvest.
Wildstock Geoduck Habitat Conservation Plan
DNR has developed a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to ensure that state managed wild geoduck harvests comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and that the harvests are conducted in a manner that protects threatened and endangered species. The "Low Effect" HCP covers the harvest of naturally occurring geoduck on state-owned beds under marine waters; geoduck raised and harvested under aquacultural practices are not included.
- Wild Geoduck Habitat Conservation Plan documents
Current Geoduck Auction Materials
Current Invitation to Bid Packet. The next geoduck auction has been rescheduled for May 16, 2013.
AUCTION DATE CHANGED TO MAY 16, 2013
Managing the geoduck resource is dynamic due to changes in market demand, resource economics, and new information on geoduck biology and population dynamics. As the managers, DNR and WDFW enforce civil and criminal state laws, regulations and contract conditions that apply to the state’s fishery.
Publications
Commercial Geoduck Fishery Management Plan - UPDATED May 2008
Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) state of Washington Commercial Geoduck Fishery May 23, 2001.
Past Invitation to Bid Packets for the Geoduck Auctions
Wild Geoduck Habitat Conservation Plan Documents
Wild Geoduck Biological Opinion
Wild Geoduck Fishery Habitat Conservation Plan
HCP List of Appendices
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
NOAA Incidental Take Permit
USFWS Incidental Take Permit