It’s shellfish season in Washington state. See new rules for harvesters
Spring means the start of shellfish season in Washington state.
“The return of daytime low tides brings opportunities for recreational clam, mussel, and oyster gathering across hundreds of Washington’s public beaches now open or soon reopening for harvesting,” the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a March 23 news release.
The state wildlife agency is introducing new rules for shellfish harvesters in 2026.
These are aimed at conserving shellfish populations, addressing increases in harvesting and promoting sustainable shellfish, according to the release.
Here’s what to know:
Where can I harvest shellfish in Washington state?
“The state has dozens of public beaches where you can dig for clams, pick oysters right off the rocks, and experience the tide-to-table journey yourself,” the Washington State Shellfish Trail said. “All you need is a shellfish/seaweed license, a bucket and a sense of adventure.”
According to the Washington Shellfish State Trail and State of Washington Tourism, popular Washington beaches for shellbeach harvesting include:
- Penrose Point State Park in Tacoma: Mussels, clams, oysters and crabs
- Maple Hollow Beach in Tacoma: Clams and oysters
- Frye Cove County Park in Olympia: Clams and oysters
- Oakland Bay in Olympia: Clams and oysters
- Larabee State Park in Bellingham: Clams, mussels and oysters
- Birch Bay County Park in Blaine: Clams, mussels and oysters
- San Juan Island: Oysters, mussels and clams
You can find public beaches for shellfishing on Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Willapa Bay and other marine areas by using the state Fish and Wildlife Department’s online “Find a beach” search tool.
“From easy-access sites to those you can reach by boat or on foot, there’s an adventure for everyone,” Chris Eardley, Fish and Wildlife’s Puget Sound shellfish policy coordinator, said in the release.
When is shellfish season in Washington state?
According to State of Washington Tourism, here’s when the following types of shellfish are generally in season:
- Oysters: Year-round, best opportunities in March and April
- Dungeness crab: July and August and October through December in Puget Sound, year-round on the coast and Columbia River
- Razor clams: October through April
Harvest seasons vary for other types of clams, the state tourism board said.
Which shellfish can I find on Bellingham beaches?
According to the state Fish and Wildlife Department, you can expect to see these species buried in rocks and sand on Whatcom County beaches:
- Steamer clams
- Butter and horse clams
- Cockles and Eastern softshell clams
- Geoducks
- Oysters
Are shellfish safe to eat?
Whatcom County had to pause all harvesting activities in November due to unsafe levels of biotoxins found in shellfish, McClatchy Media previously reported.
As of Tuesday, March 31, there were no concerns about biotoxins in Whatcom County shellfish.
According to the state tourism board, the Washington State Department of Health tests water regularly to ensure that all shellfish are safe for consumption.
Check the state Health Department’s interactive Shellfish Safety Map to see which areas are closed to recreational shellfish harvesting due to marine biotoxins.
What are new rules for harvesting shellfish in 2026?
According to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, some public beaches will have “longer, shorter or shifted seasons” for recreational shellfish harvesting in 2026.
Nuttall’s cockles must be at least 2 1/2 inches in size before they can be harvested.
“This allows more cockles to reach reproductive age, supporting long-term sustainability,” the state wildlife agency said.
In addition, the daily limit for geoduck clams is one, state wildlife officials said, noting that “geoduck beds are slow to recover.”
“Seeking less-visited beaches, avoiding obviously busy sites, having a backup plan and visiting on less popular weekdays all help reduce impacts to Washington’s valuable shellfish beaches,” Eardley said.
What are penalties for breaking shellfish harvest rules?
To ensure harvesters are following these new rules, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife will routinely patrol shellfish beaches and violators, which can include suspension of harvesting license, according to Bridget Mire, Coastal Region communications specialist for the state agency.
High harvest pressure and lack of compliance have forced Fish and Wildlife to close beaches to shellfish harvesting in the past, Mire told McClatchy Media via email, noting that ,continued rule violation or could affect future opportunities
“Recreational harvesters must follow rules and regulations to ensure shellfish seasons and beaches remain open for all to enjoy,” Mire said. “Our goals in proposing these rule changes are to conserve shellfish populations and promote sustainable shellfish gathering — now and in the future — and it takes a group effort to do so.”