Quick alert if you’re near the beach

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Full story on this coming up later but wanted to post a quick alert now. We were just out covering three men digging clams up along Beach Drive, which is (a) illegal and (b) dangerous – the beaches are closed to shellfish harvesting for health reasons, explained here (and most of it wouldn’t be open anyway – either parkland or private property). Confronted by a local wildlife advocate, they claimed it was for personal use, claimed they had no idea about the health risks etc., and returned the 100-plus clams to the beach. But in case they just packed up and moved somewhere else, be on the lookout – copper/gold Suburban-type SUV with plate starting with 861, blue and white cooler. More later!

WSG July 31, 2009 (11:15 am)

EAW! I hope if they move on to a secret local, their catch doesn’t end up in a restaurant somewhere!

Rhonda Porter July 31, 2009 (11:23 am)

This has been an issue along Beach Drive…we have a couple “regular poachers” who don’t believe it’s illegal–it’s actually a marine reserve park (we’ve written about this at Beach Drive Blog) and harvesting of shells or marine life is not allowed.

“Emma Schmitz Park is a City of Seattle designated Marine Reserve, AND a Washington State Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) designated Marine Preserve. City rules ask that people not remove anything from the beach. WDFW Marine Preserve designation make removing anything from the beach a misdemeanor. This encompasses the area from high tide to minus 4.5 (extreme low water).

I have the new 2009 Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Fishing in Washington guide, which contains all the sport fishing and harvesting rules. We are in Marine Area 10, found on p.114. This states there is no harvesting at Marine Preserves. You can get these at no cost from most sporting goods stores.

You can also find this information on line, but it’s confusing navigating through all the WDFW options. I’ve attached the page in the Fishing Regulations from the website. Scroll through the attachment to find Marine Area 10.

You can call State Patrol for violations in progress, and you may also call the WDFW Bellevue office. Please let me know if you would like me to get the phone numbers for you.

Thank you for your concern for our beautiful parks and the animals that live in Puget Sound.

Please let me know if you need more information.

Please come out and visit with Beach Naturalists in the area on low tide summer weekends, if you can. I’m attaching a flyer. Beach Naturalists do a lot of educating about why we don’t take any materials except trash from our beaches.

Janice Mathisen
Seattle Aquarium
206 386-4365 “

Jersey Jill July 31, 2009 (11:26 am)

That is so irritating at the low tide last week there was a group of men scouping up all the crabs and also digging for clams. We spoke to them and mentioned that it was illegal to do this and they told us to *@#& off and mind our own business. Thanks for the phone number link I am adding that to my cell phone log. Next time they can tell the fish and wildlife to @#%& off. HEE HEE

KSJ July 31, 2009 (11:39 am)

Is it legal to have a crab pot out at the shoreline over by the Duwamish Head? I saw a guy doing that last week and I was wondering.

Voodoo July 31, 2009 (12:48 pm)

I did not realize this was illegal. On one of our super-low tide days I saw several people digging up clams in Lincoln Park. They were not at all trying to hide so I assumed they were on the up-and-up. Next time I will call it in.

bridge to somewhere July 31, 2009 (1:05 pm)

one thing our shoreline parks might do a better job of is putting signs-up about what’s not legal on the beach. i can’t tell you how many times i’ve seen dogs splashing in the water at lincoln park, and you know what, of course they are because there are no signs saying “no dogs in the water” anywhere. so good, well-intentioned citizens inadvertantly break laws. (not saying every dog owner would obey the signs, just that some would.) and yes, i know the “ignorance of the law” stuff — but i’m just saying, signs can help.

Keith July 31, 2009 (3:00 pm)

Ugh, I can’t imagine eating a clam or crab that lived anywhere near the Duwamish.

cass July 31, 2009 (3:50 pm)

Also wondering re crab pots off alki–there were a few of them yesterday, I noted as I was out paddling around. Just offshore, nearly direct north of the sewage project on Alki.

Rhonda Porter July 31, 2009 (4:22 pm)

I wish there were signs up too. I had no idea that the beach along Emma Schmitz/Mee Kwa Mooks is a City of Seattle designated Marine Reserve, AND a Washington State Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) designated Marine Preserve