Tidal_PAD_V1_Sec4.pdf - Snohomish County PUD

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Snohomish County PUD –Pre-Application Document 4 – Existing Environment 4.4.4.1 Dungeness Crab Dungeness crab are broadly dispersed subtidally and favor a sandy or muddy seafloor (SCOD 2007). They are an important component of sandy-bottom communities and are located on the surface of the sand as well as buried beneath it (ODFW 2006b). They are tolerant of salinity changes and can be found in both marine and estuarine environments. Dungeness crabs are endemic to the North Pacific and range from central California to the Gulf of Alaska. Scavenging the sandy ocean floor for organisms that are partly or completely buried, their foraging behavior is well adapted to the surrounding habitat. Dungeness crabs are carnivores, with a diet that can include shrimp, mussels, small crabs, clams, and worms (SCOD 2007). Their persistence and annual abundance are driven by meteorological and biological conditions (ODFW 2006b). Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is the most commercially important crab species along the West Coast (ODFW 2001; DON 2006). It is a recruitment-based fishery that is subject to both commercial and recreational harvest, with take being restricted by size, sex and season. Dungeness crabs are found from the shallow intertidal habitat to depths of approximately 170 m in areas with moderate to strong currents (Emmett et al. 1991; DON 2006). The crab’s affinity for areas of strong current may concentrate several populations within range of the project sites. Within Admiralty Inlet, crabs are known to occur in Killuit Harbor, Port Townsend and Oak Bay. Dungeness crab are also concentrated in Deception Pass, Guemes Inlet, and Agate Passage. Crabs were not identified, however, in Spieden Channel, San Juan Channel or Rich Passage (PSEP 1992). 4.4.4.2 Pink Shrimp Pink shrimp spawn from March into early April (Pacific Marine Fishery Council [PFMC] 2004a, 2004b) and represent an important commercial fishery that begins on April 1 (ODFW 2005). Although estimates of pink shrimp abundance are not available for the West Coast, over 70 percent of the commercial catch occurs along the northern Oregon Coast (ODFW 2006a; PFMC 2004). Concentrated populations are found in water depths over 90 m (ODFW 2005). Population abundance appears to be driven almost entirely by environmental conditions and predator abundance (Pacific whiting), which cause natural fluctuations in recruitment (i.e., addition of 4-84 January 31, 2008
Snohomish County PUD –Pre-Application Document 4 – Existing Environment young shrimp to the fishable population), rather than by fishing pressure (PFMC 2004; Collier and Hannah 2001). Heavy fishing pressure can, however, still reduce the stock size of recruited shrimp. Pink shrimp are found within the San Juan Channel (PSEP 1992), and suitable habitat was identified near Deception Pass in Skagit Bay and near Admiralty Inlet in Discovery Bay (PSEP 1992). Shrimp were not documented in Spieden Channel, Guemes Channel, Agate Passage or Rich Passage (PSEP 1992). 4.4.4.3 Sea Urchins and Cucumbers Sea urchins and cucumbers are two commercially important invertebrate species that reside in the rocky intertidal zone. These species are harvested for export to foreign markets. Along the West Coast, annual harvest for sea urchins has averaged 7,416 metric tons (92 percent occurring in California) and 500 metric tons for sea cucumbers (60 percent occurring in Washington). Of important note, sea cucumber harvest is only legally done by SCUBA divers, making populated areas also important dive sites. Sea urchins and cucumbers can be found throughout the Sound, with most of the populations being concentrated in nearshore areas rather than open water. Sea urchins are found along the northern shore of Quimper Peninsula in Admiralty Inlet, the shores of Spieden Channel, the shores of San Juan Channel, the western side of Guemes Channel and within Deception Pass (PSEP 1992). Urchins were not documented in Rich or Agate passages (PSEP 1992). Sea cucumbers were found along the shores of Admiralty Inlet, Spieden Channel, San Juan Channel, within Guemes Channel, and within Deception Pass (PSEP 1992). Sea urchins were not documented in Agate or Rich Passages (PSEP 1992). 4-85 January 31, 2008
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Tidal_PAD_V1_Sec4.pdf - Snohomish County PUD

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