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 waters.
Current Geoduck Auction announcement
The next geoduck auction has been scheduled for February 26, 2020, starting at 9:00 am, in Conference Room 172 in the Natural Resources Building in Olympia. Find driving directions here.
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Invitation to Bid
Packets
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Successful Bidders
(Auction Dates)
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Environmental Assessments
Vicinity Maps
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Harvest Period | |
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April 6, 2020 - June 30, 2020
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Feb 3, 2020 - Mar 27, 2020
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Oct 29, 2019 - Jan 31, 2020
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| August 2019 | August 8, 2019 | Sept 9, 2019 - Oct 25, 2019 | ||
| May 2019 | May 29, 2019 | July 1, 2019 - Aug 30, 2019 | ||
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Apr 8, 2019 - June 28, 2019
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| November 2018 | November 21, 2018 | Jan 2, 2019 - Mar 29, 2019 | ||
| August 2018 | August 22, 2018 | Oct 2, 2018 - Dec 21, 2018 |
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.
