WHY DO SPORT HARVESTERS HAVE A DAILY LIMIT ON CLAMS AND OYSTERS IF TRIBAL HARVESTERS DONT?
The harvestable amount of clams and oysters on all public beaches is shared equally among sport harvesters and treaty tribes. Only the method of regulating those harvests differs. The main difference between tribal harvest and “state” harvest of clams and oysters on public tidelands is that tribal harvest is primarily commercial (although treaty ceremonial and subsistence harvest also occurs). Also, the number of tribal diggers is a small fraction of the number of non-tribal sport diggers. Tribal members may harvest more days and have higher individual harvest limits because there are far fewer tribal harvesters compared to recreational diggers. Tribal commercial clam and oyster harvests must, by agreement, be scheduled for certain days on certain beaches. Tribal monitors weigh and record the catch as it comes off the beach. When the tribal share of clams and oysters on a beach is reached for the year, the tribal fishery is closed on that beach.The state’s share of clams and oysters on
