How is this wild stock geoduck fishery managed for sustainability?
An important tool for biological management of this fishery is development of a sustainable harvest rate. The most recent yield model was developed by Bradbury, et al. (2000). The harvest rate is 2.7% of current stock estimates, and is based on biological parameters of geoduck clams including natural mortality, growth, maturity, and selection into the fishery. Another cornerstone of responsible management is to survey commercial geoduck tracts to obtain estimates of biomass. Discrete geoduck “tracts” are sampled for geoduck density and weight, to estimate pre-fishing biomass prior to harvest. Following harvest, tracts are re-surveyed to corroborate harvest reported on fish tickets and to establish a post-fishing biomass estimate. Accurate catch accounting is also important for fishery management. The DNR harvest monitoring program assures harvest occurs within designated tract and that harvest is accurately reported. How are other species protected during geoduck harvest? To minimize i