03-24 REELLIFE DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 15
fishing
During the mid-1800s,
the Duwamish people, a
coast Salish tribe that’s
indigenous to the south
Puget Sound, provided
aid to the newly arrived
European and EuroAmerican settlers by
showing them how to
utilize clam juice as a
substitute for cow’s milk,
a staple that the settlers
no longer had substantial
access to. The salty clam
broth is rich in potassium,
protein, and sodium, and
served as a well-needed
supplement to the oftenmalnourished settlers.
The Duwamish, along with
many other Coast Salish
tribes, had mastered the
art of procuring nutrients
from the Puget Sound
through the harvesting of
clams, mussels, oysters, and
geoducks. Their mastery
was so advanced that they
even cultivated their own
clams by creating clam
gardens by stacking rocks
in a line along the zero-tide
zone. This practice greatly
increased the number
of clams that could be
harvested in a given area
and is often considered the
oldest form of aquaculture
known to Washington
state.
Shellfish harvesting has
continued to be a mainstay
in both industry and culture
alike throughout the years
of Washington State's
development. It’s estimated
that the shellfish industry
rakes in over 200 million
dollars per year, making
Washington the United
States foremost producer of
shellfish. However, it’s not
just the commercial outfits
that get to soak in the glory
of our bivalve oasis, which
is the Salish Sea, there is
also ample opportunity
throughout the year for
the recreational harvester,
and for the 2024 year—
monthly tide predictions
show that March is the
kickoff for noteworthy
daytime low tides. On these
upcoming lows, harvesters
will have good access to
oysters, cockles, manilla,
butter, and horse clams. If
you're looking to harvest
geoducks, you’ll have to
wait till April when the
daytime low tides drop to -2
ft and lower.
From the islands to the
mainland shores, there are
miles upon miles of beach
where you can dig for
clams and collect oysters
in Washington. The main
things to consider are
whether the beach is open
to the public and if shellfish
are safe to eat in that area.
Head to the DOH website
on the day of your dig to
assure you that shellfish
have been deemed safe
for consumption in your
given dig area and that the
beach is open to the public
for recreational shellfish
harvesting.
MARCH 2024 | 15
