Heritage and Harvest: Quinault Razor Clams

Following decades of advocacy to secure recognition of their treaty fishing rights, the Quinault Indian Nation, based on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, now exclusively oversees the northern razor clam harvest on their reservation and co-manages the harvest with the state within their treaty area. This fishery has earned a Green rating for environmental sustainability from Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, thanks to a robust management framework anchored in traditional knowledge and modern science. This highly effective integration of management systems features regular population assessments and stringent policies designed to prevent overharvest.