Puget Sound Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 21A

Location

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Key Information

TYPE

Non-MPA

Fisheries Management Area

DESIGNATION

Management and Catch Reporting Area

LOCATED IN

USA

AREA

169 km²	MARINE AREA
174 km²	TOTAL AREA ⁱ

MANAGED BY

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Management Website

LEVEL OF FISHING PROTECTION (LFP)

Less restrictive ⁱ

At least one species- or gear-specific restriction applies (beyond permit requirements or generally applicable restrictions)

DATA SOURCE(S)

Boundary: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Boundary Simplified for Display)

DATA VERSION

2.0

LAST REVIEWED

November 2023

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Purpose

To preserve recreational fishing opportunities within the sheltered waters of the Puget Sound, which have historically provided the citizens of the state with the safest and most convenient access to productive marine recreational fishing. Recreational fishing opportunities in the Puget Sound for salmon and marine bottomfish have declined in the past two decades. Seasonal and permanent closures ensure that fish stocks are rebuilt and that fishing opportunities are restored.

Species of Concern: Multiple, Lingcod, Herring, Anchovy, Smelt, English sole, Starry flounder, Shellfish, Sixgill shark, Rockfish, Bottom Fish

Regulations Summary

Restrictions

1. It is unlawful to possess lingcod taken with commercial gear from June 16 through April 30.
2. It is unlawful to take herring and anchovy with any gear.
3. It is unlawful to take, fish for, or possess smelt for commercial purposes from April 16 to June 30.
5. The following waters are closed to the commercial crab fishery: Those waters of Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Area 21A in Bellingham Bay west of a line projected from the exposed boulder off the southeast portion of Point Francis (48.6973°, -122.6073°) to Stevie's Point (0.2 miles northwest of the point where the Lehigh Cement pipeline meets the shoreline; 48.7682°, -122.5282°).
The following restrictions apply to all Puget Sound Marine Fish-Shellfish Management and Catch Reporting Areas:
1. It is unlawful to possess English sole less than 12 inches in length taken with commercial bottomfish gear.
2. It is unlawful to fish for or possess for commercial purposes any starry flounder less than 14 inches in length taken by any commercial gear.
3. It is unlawful to retain sixgill shark taken with commercial fishing gear.
4. It is unlawful to retain any species of rockfish taken with commercial fishing gear.
5. It is unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish taken with the following gear: otter trawl, beam trawl, dogfish set net gear, pacific cod set net gear, set line gear, commercial jig gear, and troll line gear.

Allowed

1. Hardshell clams, oysters, and geoducks are excluded from this closure.
2. Taking, fishing for, or possessing bottomfish with drag seine gear for commercial purposes is open from September 1 through April 30.