For green urchin in District 2, the quota has been increased to 64,646 pounds by a co-manager agreement with a management plan amendment. It will be open on Monday January 20th. Standby for updated regulations.
For red urchin in District 3, next week will likely be the last full weekly limit.
WDFW-managed state sea urchin quota shares and preliminary landings for the 2024-2025 season:
Green urchins
| Sea Urchin Harvest Area | 2024-25 State Share (pounds) | Preliminary Landings (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 (San Juan Island Area) | 87,919 | 86,853 (CLOSED) |
| District 2 (Admiralty Area) | 64,646 | 37,941 (CLOSED) |
| District 3 & 4 & 5 (Strait Area, including Neah Bay) | 50,000 | 38,250 |
| Districts 6 & 7 (South/Central Puget Sound Area) | 25,000 | 22,826 (CLOSED) |
Red urchins
| Sea Urchin Harvest Area | 2024-25 State Share (pounds) | Preliminary Landings (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 (San Juan Island Area) | 57,000 | 13,250 |
| District 2 (Admiralty Area) | 13,000 | - |
| District 3 (Port Angeles Area) | 66,635 | 37,750 |
| District 4 (Sekiu Area) | 45,921 | - |
| District 5 (Neah Bay Area) | 27,605 | - |
Regulations:
WAC 220-340-75000M Commercial sea urchin fisheries.
Effective January 20, 2025, until further notice, the provisions of WAC 220-340-750 regarding commercial harvest of sea urchins shall be modified as described below. All other provisions of WAC 220-340-750 not addressed herein remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:
- It is unlawful for any person to fish for, take, or possess for commercial purposes any green sea urchins less than 2.25 inches; or red sea urchins measuring less than 3.25 inches or greater than 5 inches. All measurements are caliper measurements of the largest shell (test) diameter, exclusive of the spines.
- The following areas are open for red sea urchin harvest, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5.
- The following areas are open for green sea urchin harvest, seven days-per-week: Sea Urchin District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5.
- It is unlawful for any harvester to fish for, take, or possess for commercial purposes more than 1,500 pounds per species of red sea urchin or green sea urchin per license for each weekly fishery opening period.
Closed areas pertain to the commercial sea urchin fishery. In addition, see permanent WACs 220-302 and 220-303 for more information on Marine Preserves and Conservation Area closures. Legal descriptions of commercial sea urchin harvest districts are found in WAC 220-340-750: Sea Urchins. Legal descriptions of commercial sea urchin catch reporting areas can be found in WAC 220-301-040: Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas within Puget Sound.
Permanent WACs
- 220-340-030: Shellfish Harvest Logs
- 220-340-750: Permanent Sea Urchin Fishing Regulations
- 220-305: Fish Rules of General Application
- 220-320: Shellfish - Definitions, Classifications and General Rules
- 220-353: General Commercial Fishery Rules
- 220-340-040: Sale of Commercially Caught Shellfish
- 220-352: Fish Receiving Tickets, Sales, Commercial Duties, and Recordkeeping