Washington's Wild Geoduck Fishery
DNR jointly manages the geoduck fishery in the state with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Puget Sound Treaty Indian Tribes. The state and Tribes each have a right to 50 percent of the sustainable, allowable geoduck catch. DNR then offers the state's portion to private businesses for harvest at public auctions throughout the year.
Both the state and the Tribes are responsible for estimating geoduck population size, determining sustainable yield, and protecting the health of the geoduck stock and the habitat they depend upon.
Harvest of wild geoducks funds
restoration of Washington's aquatic lands.
-- DNR photo
DNR manages its share of geoduck stock under the guidance of Habitat Conservation Plan developed in 2008 to ensure regular and orderly harvest in areas that minimize impacts to shoreline residents and sensitive species while maximizing the benefits a harvest can provide Washington's citizens.
Geoduck auctions generate nearly $22 million of revenue each year. DNR uses that to fund restoration of aquatic habitats throughout the state to ensure geoduck, and all aquatic life, can continue to rely on the rich lands beneath Washington's waterss.
Attention: Current Geoduck Auction Announcement
Online Auctions
Due to the current closures and restrictions surrounding COVID-19, DNR will hold auctions virtually. Date and instructions on how to participate in the next auction are posted below.
|
Invitation to Bid
Packets
|
Successful Bidders
(Auction Dates)
|
Environmental
Assessments
|
Harvest Period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2021 | August 24, 2021 | Sept 21, 2021 - Dec 30, 2021 | ||
| June 2021 | June 2, 2021 | July 6, 2021 - Sept 10, 2021 | ||
| April 2021 | April 28, 2021 | May 24, 2021 - July 2, 2021 | ||
| Feb 2021 | Feb 24, 2021 | Apr 5, 2021 - May 21, 2021 | ||
| Jan 2021 | Jan 27, 2021 | Mar 1, 2021 - Mar 31, 2021 | ||
| Dec 2020 | Dec 9, 2020 | Jan 19, 2021 - Feb 26, 2021 | ||
| Sept 2020 | Sept 9, 2020 | Oct 20, 2020 - Jan 15, 2021 |
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.
Wild stock Geoduck Habitat Conservation Plan
DNR developed an HCP to ensure that state-managed wild geoduck harvests comply with the Endangered Species Act, and that 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. Geoducks raised and harvested under aquacultural practices are not included.
