Shellfish/Seaweed Species Rules

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For detailed information about shellfish species, visit the WDFW species and habitats page and search by species name. To check for seasonal or conservation-related closures in marine areas, view the latest updates on the WDFW shellfish emergency rules page.
Area	Species	Season	Additional Rules
Abalone
All Areas	Pinto	Closed	Surveys show a continued decline in numbers of all size abalone. The closure is necessary to allow recovery of stocks. Abalone have been listed as an endangered species.
Clams, Other Than Razor Clams
Always check the local biotoxin status before harvesting by calling the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 or visiting the Washington State Department of Health shellfish safety page. Biotoxins can present hazards in any clam species, and butter and varnish clams can retain elevated levels of biotoxins for extended periods. Clams can be dug by hand or hand-operated fork, pick, rake, or shovel. Each digger must use a separate container. Digging equipment may be shared. The tide and waves do not quickly refill holes created by harvesters. Unfilled harvesting holes and sediment piles can damage clam habitat and kill clams. Clam harvesters must refill holes created while digging. To reduce clam mortality, please push any undersized or discarded clams into the refilled holes. Harvesting seasons vary by beach. See year-round harvest closures and advisories in Shellfish Safety Information and area closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Public Beaches	Geoducks	See Shellfish and Seaweed Regulations for season information	No min. size. Daily limit first 3 dug. It is unlawful to thrust any instrument through the neck of a geoduck. It is unlawful to possess only the neck of a geoduck. Geoduck cylinder max diameter is 24" and must be non-mechanized and hand-operated.
	Horse Clams		No min. size. Daily limit first 7 dug regardless of size or condition (broken clams count towards limit).
	All Other Species (Listed Below)		Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding horse clams and geoducks). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
	Native Littlenecks		Min. size 1½".
	Manilas		Min. size 1½".
	Butters		Min. size 1½".
	Cockles		Min. size 1½".
	Eastern Softshells		No min. size.
	Varnish		No min. size.
	All Other Marine Clams		No min. size.
All Fresh Water Areas	All Species	Closed

Manila Littleneck Clam

Venerupis philippinarum

Close-up of a Manila clam with a ridged, oval shell, a popular shellfish for recreational harvesting in Washington State. — A Manila clam, one of the most commonly harvested shellfish in Washington, prized for its sweet flavor and distinctive ridged shell.

Average size is 1-2", up to 2½". Oval elongated shell has concentric and radiating lines. Siphon tips are split. Found to 4" below surface.

Native Littleneck Clam

Leukoma staminea

Average size is 1-2", up to 2½". Rounded shell has concentric and radiating lines. Siphon tips are fused. Found 6-10" below surface.

Cockle Clam

Clinocardium nuttallii

Prominent, evenly-spaced ridges which fan out from the hinge. Mottled, light brown. Can grow to 5". Found on or just below surface.

Butter Clam

Saxidomus giganteus

Average size is 3-4", up to 6". Shells have no radiating lines and are usually chalky-white or stained blue. The siphon can be pulled into its shell. Usually found 12-18" below surface. Shell gapes slightly at siphon. Unable to rebury on its own. Push into refilled hole siphon side up.

(Eastern) Softshell Clam

Mya arenaria

Can grow to 6". Shells are soft, chalky-white with a rough irregular surface. Shell is rounded at the foot end, pointed at the siphon end. Siphon doesn't have leather-like flap on the tip. Found to 18" below surface. Unable to rebury on its own. Push into refilled hole siphon side up.

Varnish Clam

Nuttallia obscurata

Up to 3", with shiny brown coating on the outside, purple on the inside of shell. Found 3-12" below the surface.

Horse Clam

Tresus nuttallii (shown)

Tresus capax (not shown)

Close-up of a horse clam with a large, thick white and brown shell and protruding siphon, a common burrowing clam found in Washington State beaches. — A horse clam, recognized by its large shell and long siphon, is one of the largest clams found on Washington’s beaches and intertidal zones.

Large, can grow up to 8". Shell is chalky-white with yellow-brown patches of "skin". The siphon can't be pulled into shell and has a leather-like flap on the tip. Found 1-2 feet below surface. Unable to rebury on its own. Push into refilled hole siphon side up.

Geoduck Clam

Panopea generosa

Heavy, oblong shell, rounded at one end. Appears cut-off at the other. The siphon has no leather-like flap on the tip and can't be pulled into the shell. Found 2-3 feet below surface. Can weigh up to 10 lbs. Unable to rebury on its own.

Area	Species	Season	Additional Rules
Crab
See Crab Rules for crab harvest information and Statewide Gear Rules for crab gear rules.
Crayfish (Crawfish)
All Open Waters	Native Species (Signal Crayfish)	1st Mon. in May-Oct. 31	Min. size 3¼" from tip of rostrum (nose) to tip of tail. Daily limit 10 lbs in shell. All females with eggs or young attached must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. See Statewide Gear Rules.
All Open Waters	Nonnative Species	1st Mon. in May-Oct. 31	Must be kept in a separate container. Must be dead before being removed from riparian area (immediate vicinity of water body). No daily limit, size, or sex restrictions. See Statewide Gear Rules.
There is only one native crayfish species in Washington — the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). This species can be identified by its uniform brownish coloration, white or light coloration of the claw joint, and the smooth surface of its carapace and claws compared to that of nonnative species. Native crayfish are the only crayfish that may be removed from the vicinity of the waterbody alive. If you cannot positively identify your catch as a nonnative species, the daily limit and other restrictions listed above for native crayfish apply. How to humanely kill and preserve crayfish: There are two important steps to killing a crayfish quickly and humanely. The first is to chill them in ice or ice slurry for 20-30 minutes, and the second is to pierce their head with a knife. Crayfish identification in Washington: The native signal crayfish can be recognized by light-colored claw joints, while nonnative species such as the red swamp crayfish, rusty crayfish, and northern crayfish have distinct features like claw bumps, dark spots, and different color patterns.
Goose Barnacles
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see Shellfish Safety Information.
Puget Sound Public Beaches		Year-round	No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs. whole or 5 lbs. barnacle stalks. See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas, and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Pacific Ocean Beaches (Outside Olympic National Park)		Nov. 1-Mar. 31	No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs. whole or 5 lbs. barnacle stalks.
Mussels
Seasons in Puget Sound are the same as clam seasons on each beach. Harvesting seasons vary by beach. Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see Shellfish Safety Information.
Puget Sound Public Beaches	Blue, California, Mediterranean	See Shellfish and Seaweed Regulations for season information	No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs. in shell. See year-round harvest closures and advisories in Shellfish Safety Information and area closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Pacific Ocean Beaches (Outside Olympic National Park)	Blue, California, Mediterranean	Nov. 1-Mar. 31	No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs. in shell.
All Fresh Water Areas	All Species	Closed.
Octopus
Must be caught with hands or instrument which does not penetrate the octopus. May be caught incidentally using shellfish pot gear during a lawful shellfish pot fishery or hook and line gear during a lawful hook and line fishery. Chemical irritants cannot be used to take octopus. For information on designated Octopus Protection Areas, visit the WDFW octopus preserve and marine protected areas page.
All Waters except Marine Area 12, Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas, and Octopus Protection Areas	Giant Pacific	Year-round	No min. size. Daily limit 1. No chemicals or irritants allowed. See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Marine Area 12, Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas, and Octopus Protection Areas	All Species	CLOSED.	See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Oysters
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see Shellfish Safety Information. Oysters may only be harvested by hand or with a hand-held manually operated prying tool (no hammers, etc.). Each harvester must use a separate container. Harvesting seasons vary by beach. See year-round harvest closures and advisories in Shellfish Safety Information and area closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Public Beaches	All Species	See Shellfish and Seaweed Regulations for season information	Min. size 2½" measured across longest distance of shell. Daily limit 18. Oysters must be shucked on the beach. Oysters consumed on the beach count toward a limit. Leave shells on the same tideland and tide height where they were taken.

Area	Species	Season	Additional Rules
Relic Shells
All Areas	All Species	Year-round All beaches	Daily limit is 5 pounds of all species combined. Take of oyster shells is prohibited. Removal of shells on State Park beaches prohibited. No license required. See Don't Relocate Shells or Shellfish! information in Shellfish Safety Information.
Sand Shrimp
Public Beaches	All Species	Year-round	No min. size. Daily limit 10 dozen. May be harvested only by hand or by hand-operated suction devices. See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
Scallops
Biotoxin Warning: Scallops may retain elevated levels of marine biotoxins. Currently, Department of Health lists all areas closed for the recreational harvest of scallops due to biotoxins. Check the current biotoxin status by calling the Washington State Department of Health Biotoxin Hotline at 800-562-5632 or visiting the DOH shellfish safety page. See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
All Waters	Pink and Spiny	Year-round	Min. size 2" measured across longest distance of shell. Daily limit 40, combined limit for both species. May be harvested only by hand or with a hand-held manually operated prying tool.
	Weathervane	Year-round	Min. size 4". Daily limit 12. Measure across longest distance of the shell.
	Rock	Year-round	No min. size. Daily limit 6. Hammers or mallets may not be used to harvest rock scallops.
Sea Cucumbers
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see Shellfish Safety Information. See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones. Marine areas may be subject to seasonal or conservation closures. To stay informed, check the latest updates on the WDFW shellfish emergency rules and regulations page.
All Waters except for Marine areas 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, and 12 detailed below	California	July 1-last day in Feb.	No min. size. Daily limit 18. All other sea cucumber species are unclassified marine invertebrates and may not be harvested. See rules for unclassified marine invertebrates (below).
Marine area 8-1	All Species	Closed
Marine area 8-2	All Species	Closed
Marine area 9 south of a line projected from Foulweather Bluff to Double Bluff	All Species	Closed
Marine area 10	All Species	Closed
Marine area 12	All Species	Closed
Sea Urchins
See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
All Waters except Marine area 12	Green	Year-round	Min. size 2 ¼" measured across longest distance of shell, not including spines. Daily limit 18.
	Purple	Year-round	Min. size 2 ¼" measured across longest distance of shell, not including spines. Daily limit 18.
	Red	Year-round	Min. size 3 ¼" and max. size 5" measured across longest distance of shell, not including spines. Daily limit 18.
	White	Year-round	Closed.
Marine Area 12	All Species	Year-round	Closed.
Seaweed
(Many county and city parks have additional rules or closures. Please check local regulations before harvesting). Wash all seaweed before eating.
All Areas	All Species	Year-round	Daily limit 10 lbs. wet weight. Illegal to harvest any seaweed if herring eggs are attached.
All State Park beaches are closed to seaweed harvest except Fort Flagler, Fort Ebey, and Fort Worden State Parks, which are open to seaweed harvest from April 16-May 15 only. Seaweed harvesting in State Parks is limited to posted park hours and special State Park rules below: Bull kelp must be cut a minimum of 24" above the bulb and short stemmed kelps must be cut a minimum of 12" above the anchor point. The anchor point must be left in place at all times. Only a knife or similar instrument may be used to harvest seaweed. Tearing the plant and use of tined instruments such as rakes or forks is prohibited. Each harvester must use their own container. Multiple limits may not be combined in the same container. Each harvester must use a scale to determine when the harvest limit has been reached. Drying or partial drying prior to weighing is prohibited.
Shrimp
See Shrimp Rules and Statewide Gear Rules for shrimp harvest and gear rules.
Snails
All Areas	All species	Closed.
Squid
Legal gear is a forage fish jig, a maximum of 4 squid lures, forage fish dip net, or a handheld dip net. Each harvester must have a separate container. See closures in Marine Preserves, Conservation Areas and Shellfish Protection Zones.
All Waters	Market Squid and all other species	Year-round	No min. size. Daily limit is 5 qts. or 10 lbs.
All Waters	Humboldt Squid	Year-round	Daily limit is 1 squid.
Unclassified Marine Invertebrates
All Areas	All Species	Closed	See Unclassified Marine Invertebrates definition. Examples below.

Crab identification and measurement guide showing Dungeness crab with white-tipped claws, red rock crab with black-tipped claws, and instructions on how to measure shell size, check shell hardness, and distinguish male and female crabs by abdomen shape. — Crab identification and measuring guide: Learn how to identify Dungeness crabs (white-tipped claws, brown shell) and red rock crabs (black-tipped claws, reddish shell). The guide explains how to measure shell size correctly, check shell hardness, and tell males (narrow abdomen) from females (wide abdomen).