Managing geoduck fisheries in the United States and Canada: the good, the bad and the ugly meet the oldest and largest clam in the West

J.L. VALERO; J.M. ORENSANZ; A.M. PARMA; C. HAND; R. HILBORN

Sarasota

Simposio; Fifth Mote International Symposium- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: integrating marine and human ecology into fisheries management; 2004

Florida State University and Mote Marine Laboratory

Geoduck clams, one of the most conspicuous animals of the Pacific Northwest, are known because of their size (up to 4.5 kg), life-style, growth pattern, and longevity (up to 168 years). Washington (USA) and British Columbia (Canada) geoduck fisheries produce nearly all the world´s supply of this highly valued product. Both fisheries are managed on the basis of biological reference points. Other than that, their management systems differ radically: in Washington discrete tracts are auctioned annually, so intensive harvesting is conducted in small areas, whereas in British Columbia, limited entry, individual vessel quotas, and a rotational scheme result in moderate harvest intensity spread over large areas. We analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of each approach as characterized by scientists, managers, and fishers from each system. We discuss the applicability of management approaches based on monitoring and feedback as alternatives to the approaches currently in use.