Corrects and clarifies open/closed Marine Areas.

Action: Opens personal-use sea cucumber harvest in Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 7, 9 (N. of Foulweather Bluff to Double Bluff), 11, and 13. Maintains the closure of personal-use sea cucumber harvest in Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2, 10, and the part of Marine Area 9 south of line projected from Foulweather Bluff continuing to Double Bluff on Whidbey Island, until further notice.   

Effective date: July 1, 2021, until further notice. 

Species affected: Parastichopus californicus, the California or Giant Red Sea Cucumber. 

Location: Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, and 13.  

Reason for action: This fishing rule change to personal-use harvest regulation supports both conservation of the species and co-manager agreement.     

Additional information: The portions of Marine Areas 8, 9, and 10 described above comprise commercial sea cucumber district 3. This district has been closed to commercial harvest since 2014 by co-manager agreement for conservation reasons. Sea cucumber harvest in all other areas not closed by permanent rules (see WAC 220-330-090) can reopen from July 1 through Feb. 28 by co-manager agreement to protect aggregations during their peak spawning season (March 1 to June 30). 

Information contact:  Taylor Frierson, echinoderm fishery manager, [email protected], 360-902-2652.