Hi Conchlers, I'm the bearer of bad news today.  The Washington State
Department of Fish and Wildlife [WDFW] has banned the collecting of all live
"Unclassified invertebrates".  This means that all gastropods and chitons as
well as all terrestrial and freshwater mollusks are now protected from being
collected within the state. In addition sea stars and shore crabs are
protected along with all manner of other invertebrates as well.

Dead shells [defined as "relic shells"] can be collected up to five pounds a
day.  However if they have hermit crabs inside the shells then they wouldn't
be allowed to be collected unless the hermit abandoned the shell.

Bivalve mollusks [which are classified under WDFW regulations] can still be
collected with a valid Washington State Shellfish License and within daily
bag limits. This ban took effect on May 1, 2010 and was passed without much
input from the public.  The WDFW Director requested the ban to protect the
resource since very little study has occurred identifying a reasonable
amount of the resource that could be taken without deleterious effects
occurring in the marine environment. Other resources governed by WDFW
regulations and laws have suffered greatly in the past and have had the
populations plummet from over harvesting [for example: abalone, salmon, rock
fish and shrimp].

If you are planning a trip to Washington State to collect shells this summer
you might want to consider changing your plans.  If you have specific
questions I will try to answer them.  Bert Bartleson, President, Pacific
Northwest Shell Club

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