Puget Sound Recreational Shellfish Survey

Puget Sound
Recreational
Shellfishing
Survey

Sponsored by NOAA Fisheries

This survey is voluntary.
All responses are anonymous and confidential.

Razor clams

Information about Washington Shellfish

• In Washington, five Pacific coast beaches are periodically open to razor clam
digging, depending on tides and marine-toxin levels.
• These clams can be dug with a clam shovel or a clam tube.
• The daily limit is the first 15 razor clams, regardless of size or condition.
Crab
• Several species of crab are found in Washington’s marine waters and along its
shores, but the two most popular are Dungeness and red rock crab.
• The Dungeness crab is frequently associated with eelgrass beds and prefers
sandy or muddy areas. The red rock crab prefers rocky areas, as its
name implies.
• Crab pots are the most commonly used gear to catch Dungeness and red rock
crab in Puget Sound.
• For Puget Sound, the crab season is usually open July through September.
Shrimp
• Many varieties of shrimp are found in the waters of Puget Sound, with spot
shrimp being the most popular. Shrimp are found primarily on or near
the bottom, and are most frequently caught at depths of 30 to 300 feet.
• Shrimpers use pots of various sizes and designs.
• Shrimp seasons in Puget Sound run from late spring through early fall, although
the season for spot shrimp can be much shorter.
Clams (other than razor clams) and Oysters
• The beaches that surround Puget Sound are populated by a variety of clams
(Manila, native littlenecks, butter, cockles, macomas, eastern softshell, varnish,
geoduck, and horse clams), plus oysters. All are available for harvest at Puget
Sound beaches at various times of the year.
• Except for the larger butter clams, rakes are usually most effective for gathering
clams, and are less damaging to the clams and the beach. To unearth a
geoduck, you’ll generally need to excavate a hole up to three feet deep. The only
equipment needed to collect oysters are sturdy gloves to protect your hands
and a bucket.
• For “steamer” clams (which include all varieties except geoduck and horse
clams), the daily limit is 40 clams or 10 pounds in the shell, whichever comes
first. There are also separate daily limits for geoducks (three), horse clams
(seven) and oysters (18).
This survey focuses mostly on clams (other than razor clams) and oysters.

Section A: Your Washington Shellfishing Activities
The questions in this survey are about YOU and YOUR shellfishing activities and preferences. Except when
asked, please do not include any information from other household members or other shellfishing party
members.
Please print clearly.
Write numbers as two digits: 1 trip = 0 1

A1

Fill in boxes with a

or

Have you harvested RAZOR CLAMS in Washington in the last 12 months?
Yes
No

A2

Please tell us the number of days in the last 12 months you spent recreationally harvesting each of
the following types of shellfish in PUGET SOUND, including the San Juan Islands, Strait of Juan de
Fuca, and Hood Canal. (If you harvested more than one type of shellfish on the same day, please
count that day toward the type of shellfish you spent the most time harvesting)
TYPE of SHELLFISH
Clams (other than razor clams)

# DAYS in Last
12 Months

Oysters
Crab
Shrimp
Other (specify):__________________

Based on your answer to question A2:
If you harvested CLAMS (other than razor clams) or OYSTERS in PUGET SOUND in the last
12 months, please continue
to the next page.
If you did not harvest CLAMS (other than razor clams) and did not harvest OYSTERS in
PUGET SOUND in the last 12 months, please skip
to question D1 on page 15.

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

3

Please use this map of Puget Sound when answering the questions on the next page.
The locations of some cities are given to help you locate your beach.

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]

4

A3

Please think about all of the trips you took to harvest clams or oysters in Puget Sound within the last
12 months. On the map, please use an ‘X’ to mark the location of the one beach you most often used
in the last 12 months to harvest clams or oysters.

A4

Is this beach a public beach (state park, county park, or other public beach) or private beach?
Public Beach
Private Beach

A5

What is the name of this beach? (if this is an unnamed private beach, leave blank)

A6

For the beach you most often used, how many one-way miles do you travel to get there by car, by
boat (not including ferry), by foot, or a combination? (mark all that apply, round to nearest mile)
By car:

I travel

miles by car.

By boat:

I travel

miles by boat (not including ferry).

By foot:

A7

Do you take a ferry as part of your trip to get to the beach you most often used?
Yes
No

A8

On the trip(s) you took to the beach you most often used, did you usually stay one or more
nights in a house you own, a vacation rental, a hotel / motel, or a campground?
No. This is usually a day trip.
House I own
Vacation rental
Hotel, motel, or B&B
Campground or trailer park
Other lodging:______________________

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

5

A9

Near the beach you most often use, are there other beaches that you also use to harvest clams or
oysters? (mark all that apply)
No
Yes, within 10 or fewer miles of the beach I most often use
Yes, between 11 and 20 miles of the beach I most often use
Yes, between 21 and 30 miles of the beach I most often use
Yes, more than 30 miles from the beach I most often use

A10

Below are some reasons why you might harvest clams, oysters, or other shellfish in Puget Sound.
Mark how much you agree or disagree with each statement.
“I harvest CLAMS, OYSTERS, or
OTHER SHELLFISH
in PUGET SOUND to ... “
... Spend time outdoors

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Feel
Neutral

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

... Spend time with family
... Spend time with friends or others
... Relax
... Get some exercise
... Eat something I caught myself
... Provide food for me or my family

A11

Approximately how often do you consume meals that contain the clams or oysters you’ve harvested
from Puget Sound?
Almost never
About once per year
Two to three times per year
Four to ten times per year
More than ten times per year

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]

6

Section B: Your Most Recent Puget Sound Clam or Oyster Trip
DO NOT include a trip to the ocean beaches to harvest razor clams.

B1

When was the last trip where you harvested clams or oysters in Puget Sound?
Month:

B2

How many DAYS did you spend on this trip? (count partial days as full days and include travel)
# Days:

B3

How many DAYS did you spend harvesting clams or oysters on this trip? (count partial days as full days)
# Days Harvesting Clams / Oysters:

B4

How many total HOURS did you spend harvesting clams or oysters on this trip? (round to nearest hour)
# Hours Harvesting:

B5

On this trip, did you use a public beach (state park, county park, or other public beach) or private beach?
Public Beach
Private Beach

B6­

What is the name of the beach you used on this trip to harvest clams or oysters in Puget Sound?
(if this is an unnamed private beach, leave blank)

B7

How many one-way miles did you travel to get to this beach by car, by boat (not including ferry), by
foot, or a combination? (mark all that apply, round to nearest mile)
By car:

I traveled

miles by car.

By boat:

I traveled

miles by boat (not including ferry).

By foot:

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

7

B8

Was harvesting clams or oysters the primary purpose of this trip?
No

B9

Continue

Yes

Skip to question B11 on page 9

As part of this trip, did you stay one or more nights in a house you own, a vacation rental, a hotel /
motel, or a campground?
Skip to question B11 on page 9

No. This was a day trip.
House I own
Vacation rental
Hotel, motel, or B&B
Campground or trailer park

Other lodging:______________________

B10

(If overnight trip) How many one-way miles was the beach you used to harvest clams or oysters from the
place you stayed the night? (mark all that apply, round to nearest mile)
By car:

I traveled

miles to the beach by car from the place I stayed.

By boat:

I traveled

miles to the beach by boat (not including ferry) from the place I stayed.

By foot:

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]

8

B11

On this trip, what type(s) of shellfish did you personally target or harvest, and how many did you
personally keep?

TYPE of SHELLFISH
Steamer clams (manila, littleneck, butter, cockle, softshell, macoma)

Targeted or
Harvested?

(check if yes)

Number
You Kept

Geoduck clams
Horse clams
Oysters
Other (specify):________________

On this trip, about how much money did you or your household spend in each of the following
expenditure categories? For each type, indicate the number of people covered by the expenditure.

Transportation

B12

TYPE of EXPENDITURE
Auto, truck, or RV fuel
Boat fuel
Parking or boat launch
Ferry
Other transportation:___________

Lodging / Food

Campgrounds and trailer parks
Hotels, motels, and B&B
Vacation rental
Grocery and convenience stores
Restaurants and bars
Other lodging / food:___________

B13

Expenditures by you or
your household
(round to nearest dollar)

$
$
$
$
$

.00
.00
.00
.00
.00

$
$
$
$
$
$

.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00

# of people covered
by this expense
(including you)

During the next 12 months, how likely is it that you will take a trip where you harvest shellfish
in Puget Sound?
Definitely will harvest shellfish
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Very unlikely
Definitely will not harvest shellfish

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

9

Section C: Trips You Might Take in the Next 12 Months

In this section, we’d like you to think about the NUMBER OF TRIPS you’d likely take during the
next 12 months to harvest clams or oysters in Puget Sound. We’d also like to know how different
types of beach closures might affect your plans.
There are three types of closures:
A Seasonal Closure occurs when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife closes a beach
for the harvest of shellfish species in order to protect and conserve shellfish populations.
A Biotoxin Closure occurs when the Washington Department of Health closes a beach for the
harvest of some or all shellfish species due to the presence of toxic substances such as paralytic
shellfish poison (also known as red tide) and domoic acid.
A Pollution Closure occurs when the Washington Department of Health closes a beach to the
harvest of shellfish species due to pollution such as bacteria or harmful chemicals.
All of these closures can be for an entire season or for a shorter period of time, and can be for all
species or just some species.

C1

C2

During which month(s) do you take trips to harvest clams or oysters in Puget Sound? (mark all
that apply)
January

April

July

October

February

May

August

November

March

June

September

December

Please think about the beach you most often use to harvest clams or oysters in Puget Sound and
assume there will be no biotoxin or pollution closures on this beach over the next 12 months.
Over the next 12 months, how many trips would you take to this beach where you
Harvest clams or oysters on the trip? I would take

harvesting trips.

Do not harvest any clams or oysters on the trip? I would take

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]

non-harvesting trips.

10

Now, we will ask you about a few specific situations when a beach closure might affect the number
of trips you think you’ll make in the next 12 months, depending on the
• Type of Closure,
• Period of Closure,
• Species Closed to Harvest, and the
• Additional Distance to a Nearby Beach that is Fully Open

C3

Suppose that the Department of Health has closed an area for the next 12 months that includes
the Puget Sound beach you most often use for harvesting clams or oysters and there is a nearby
beach that is not affected by this closure that is an additional 10 miles away.
Please review the following table and answer the questions below.
Information on the Closure and Your Alternatives
Type of Closure

Pollution

Period of Closure

12 months

Species Closed to Harvest

All Clams and Oysters

Additional Distance to a Nearby
Beach that is Fully Open
C3.1

10 miles

During this 12 month closure, how many trips would you take to the beach you most often use,
and to the nearby beach that is fully open?
Trips in the next 12 months to the beach you most often use:
Harvesting trips:
Non-harvesting trips:
Trips in the next 12 months to the nearby beach that is fully open (10 additional miles):
Harvesting trips:

C3.2

For comparison, suppose instead that this closure would not occur. How many harvesting trips to
the nearby beach (10 additional miles) would you now take?
Harvesting trips to nearby beach if no closure:

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

11

C4

Now, suppose that the Department of Health has closed an area for the next 12 months that includes the Puget Sound beach you most often use for harvesting clams or oysters and there is a
nearby beach that is not affected by this closure that is an additional 30 miles away.
Please review the following table and answer the questions below.
Information on the Closure and Your Alternatives
Type of Closure

Biotoxin

Period of Closure

12 months

Species Closed to Harvest

Butter Clams Only

Additional Distance to a Nearby
Beach that is Fully Open
C4.1

30 miles

During this 12 month closure, how many trips would you take to the beach you most often use,
and to the nearby beach that is fully open?
Trips in the next 12 months to the beach you most often use:
Harvesting trips:
Non-harvesting trips:
Trips in the next 12 months to the nearby beach that is fully open (30 additional miles):
Harvesting trips:

C4.2

For comparison, suppose instead that this closure would not occur. How many harvesting trips
to the nearby beach (30 additional miles) would you now take?
Harvesting trips to nearby beach if no closure:

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]

12

C5

Now, suppose that the Department of Health has closed an area for two months (May through June)
that includes the Puget Sound beach you most often use for harvesting clams or oysters and there is a
nearby beach that is not affected by this closure that is an additional 10 miles away.
Please review the following table and answer the questions below.
Information on the Closure and Your Alternatives
Type of Closure
Period of Closure
Species Closed to Harvest
Additional Distance to a Nearby
Beach that is Fully Open

C5.1

Biotoxin
May through June
All Clams and Oysters
10 miles

During this two month closure (May through June), how many trips would you take to the
beach you most often use, and to the nearby beach that is fully open?
Trips during the closure (May through June) to the beach you most often use:
Harvesting trips:
Non-harvesting trips:
Trips during the closure (May through June) to the nearby beach that is fully open (10 additional
miles):
Harvesting trips:

C5.2

How many trips would you take the other 10 months (before and after the closure) to the beach
you most often use, and to the nearby beach that is fully open?
Trips the other 10 months to the beach you most often use:
Harvesting trips:
Non-harvesting trips:
Trips the other 10 months to the nearby beach that is fully open (10 additional miles):
Harvesting trips:

C5.3

For comparison, suppose instead that this closure would not occur. How many harvesting trips
to the nearby beach (10 additional miles) would you now take during May through June?
Harvesting trips in May through June to nearby beach if no closure:

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

13

C6

Now, suppose that the Department of Health has closed an area for one month (September) that includes the Puget Sound beach you most often use for harvesting clams or oysters and there is a nearby
beach that is not affected by this closure that is an additional 20 miles away.
Please review the following table and answer the questions below.
Information on the Closure and Your Alternatives
Type of Closure

Pollution

Period of Closure

September

Species Closed to Harvest

All Clams and Oysters

Additional Distance to a Nearby
Beach that is Fully Open
C6.1

20 miles

During this one month closure (September), how many trips would you take to the beach you
most often use, and to the nearby beach that is fully open?
Trips during the closure (September) to the beach you most often use:
Harvesting trips:
Non-harvesting trips:
Trips during the closure (September) to the nearby beach that is fully open (20 additional miles):
Harvesting trips:

C6.2

How many trips would you take the other 11 months (before and after the closure) to the beach
you most often use, and to the nearby beach that is fully open?
Trips the other 11 months to the beach you most often use:
Harvesting trips:
Non-harvesting trips:
Trips the other 11 months to the nearby beach that is fully open (20 additional miles):
Harvesting trips:

C6.3

For comparison, suppose instead that this closure would not occur. How many harvesting trips to
the nearby beach (20 additional miles) would you now take during September?
Harvesting trips in September to nearby beach if no closure:

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]

14

Section D: About You and Your Household
The following questions will help us know more about shellfish harvesters. The information
you provide will remain STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL, and you will not be identified with
your answers.
D1

In what year were you born?
Year:
1 9

D2

Are you . . . ?

D3

What is the highest level of education you have completed? (mark one response)

Male

Female

Some high school
High school graduate
Technical school
Some college
College graduate or more

D4

How many adults and children (under 18) are there in your household including yourself?
# Adults:
# Children:

D5

Which of the following best describes your household’s TOTAL annual income before taxes in 2011?

D6

Are you employed part time or full time outside the home?

Less than $20,000
$20,000 - $39,999
$40,000 - $59,999
$60,000 - $79,999

$80,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $124,999
$125,000 - $149,999
$150,000 or more

No, I am a homemaker, retired, or currently unemployed

Skip to the next page

I work part time (less than 35 hours per week)
I work full time (more than 35 hours per week)

D7

Approximately what is your personal hourly wage rate?

D8

Do you take time off work to harvest shellfish? (mark all that apply)

$5.00 - $9.99
$10.00 - $14.99
$15.00 - $19.99

$20.00 - $29.99
$30.00 - $49.99
$50.00 or more

No
Yes, I take paid time off (vacation, sick leave)
Yes, I take unpaid time off

Questions? Call Mark Plummer at 1-206-860-3492

15

Thank You for Participating!
Please use the space below to make any additional comments you may have. If you have any questions
regarding the survey, please call toll free 1-206-860-3492 or email [email protected].

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