Location
Key Information
| 22 km2 | MARINE AREA |
| 22 km2 | TOTAL AREA i |
Boundary: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Unmodified)
2.0
November 2023
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Purpose
The Maury Island Aquatic Reserve is located in central Puget Sound and southwestern King County, including the eastern shores of Maury Island. The reserve is approximately 5,530 acres of state-owned aquatic bedlands and tidelands located in Quartermaster Harbor. The reserve boundaries include all of the known Quartermaster Harbor herring stock spawning grounds-representing one of only 18 distinct pacific herring spawning areas in Puget Sound. The area is unique within central Puget Sound because of the diverse set of habitats and species which include extensive eelgrass beds, kelp beds, sand and mudflats, herring, surf smelt, and sand lance spawning grounds.
Species of Concern: Pacific herring, Eelgrass beds, Kelp beds, Surf smelt, Sand lance, western grebes, Pacific herring, Chinook salmon, orca
Regulations Summary
Restrictions
All public clam and oyster beaches within the reserve are closed to butter and varnish clam harvesting, while Dockton County Park is closed for all species (DOH 2014). Recreational and commercial fishing is regulated under state regulations. All take of marine life must conform to regulations regarding species allowed, size limitations, catch limits, method of capture, and seasons.
Allowed
Fishing may be allowed pursuant to WDFW regulations. Only passive and low-impact recreational development are permitted in a Natural Shoreline of the Maury Island Natural Area.