3/30/2023 0 Comments Geo duck clams![]() ![]() ![]() The vertical distribution of geoducks is from the low intertidal zone (+1.0 feet) to -300 feet (~100 meters of water depth) How do geoducks grow? Geoducks are distributed throughout Puget Sound in soft substrates (including mud, mud/sand, sand), and are abundant in South/Central Puget Sound and northern Hood Canal. When eggs are fertilized, they metamorph into larvae which may be floating in the water for 3-5 weeks before settling and digging into the substrate. Geoducks are known to be “trickle spawners”, releasing gametes over a season extending from early Spring to early Autumn. Fecundity (number of eggs) is reported as high as 10 million eggs per year per spawner. Geoducks are broadcast spawners (into the water column), and spawning is often observed to be synchronous, meaning the males and females “release” at the same time. Do not attempt to directly contact someone who is illegally harvesting. It is important for those who suspect illegal harvest to immediately contact WDFW Enforcement with identification information for the harvest vessel and participants. The high value and wide distribution of geoducks increases the risk of illegal harvest. The average for geoducks, on unfished beds, is 46 years old. Geoducks are long-lived, with one sample in Washington aged at 160+ years old. State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Assessments are completed for state harvest areas and are part of SEPA compliance for state harvest auctions. Both of these documents can be found at the Department of Natural Resources website. In 2008, a federal Habitat Conservation Plan was completed for the wild geoduck fishery. In 2001, the wild commercial geoduck fishery EIS was updated and a Final Supplemental EIS was completed. It is expected that this trend of increasing TAC may reverse as decreases in biomass from fishing outpace discovery of new beds and increased fishing areas from health classification upgrades. There has been a trend of increasing geoduck TAC due to discovery of new commercial geoduck beds, upgrades to health classifications in some areas, and tribal access to harvest nearshore geoducks that were unavailable to non-tribal harvesters due to statutory constraints. In 1997, state and tribal co-managers adopted a deterministic age-structured equilibrium yield model for the geoduck fishery (Bradbury et al., 2000) and recommended a annual total allowable catch (TAC) rate of 2.7% of the commercially available geoduck biomass in six management regions. The treaty tribes have fully participated in the commercial geoduck clam fishery since 1995. In 1994, the Stevens Treaty tribes affirmed their rights to harvest shellfish resources in common with the citizens of the state (50:50 sharing), commonly known as the Rafeedie Decision. The year-round fishery generates revenue for the state (about 22 million, $US) through a competitive bid process and sale of the rights to harvest shares of the quota on discrete geoduck “tracts.” In 1985, a wild stock geoduck fishery Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed. WDFW is primarily responsible for biological management of the fishery and DNR is primarily responsible for harvest management. of Wildlife) and Natural Resources (DNR) to co-manage the fishery. In 1970, the Washington Legislature established a commercial geoduck clam fishery and designated the Washington Departments of Fisheries (Fisheries subsequently merged with the Dept. About 110 million pounds of geoducks, distributed throughout Puget Sound at water depths down to -60 feet (MLLW), were initially identified. ![]() Monofilament recovery and recycling programĪnnual subtidal scuba surveys, to estimate the abundance and distribution of the geoduck clam ( Panopea generosa) resource, began in 1967 in Washington state. ![]()
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