HISTORY OF THE GEODUCK CLAM FISHERY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

The commercial geoduck clam fishery started in B.C. in 1976 as an open access fishery without catch limits.  In 1979 entry to the fishery was limited to 55 licences and total allowable catches were introduced based on a fixed harvest rate of the original biomass.  Coast wide landings (pounds harvested) in this new fishery rose steadily until 1987 when improved scientific assessments determined that the quotas being set were too high and reductions in quotas were required and implemented.  In the past  several years, quotas have remained stable at about 4 million pounds per year. In contrast to landings, the value of the fishery has risen dramatically.  In fact, the geoduck fishery now ranks first in landed value among the invertebrate fisheries in B.C.

The success of the geoduck fishery is in part related to the switch in 1989 to an individual vessel quota (I.V.Q.) system and to the development of a live market. Under the I.V.Q system, each license is allotted an equal share of the annual allowable catch.  Fishermen get maximum value for their product by working closely with their buyers and timing their harvest to optimal market conditions, not by simply harvesting more product faster than other vessels during "shot gun" openings.  The switch to an I.V.Q. system was accomplished with the support and lobbying of the UHA. The live market fetches a higher price per pound and today most geoducks are shipped live to a predominantly Asian market.

Between $32 and 38 million worth of geoducks (ex-vessel price) are purchased from fishermen each year, making the geoduck fishery one of the most valuable fisheries on the West Coast of Canada. The majority of geoducks harvested are shipped live to greater China.

Geoducks are transported by water and land to registered buyers in the lower mainland of B.C.  Then they are carefully packaged and shipped live to places like Hong Kong where they are placed in holding tanks for viewing and sale.  For example, a geoduck harvested Monday in the Strait of Georgia would be packaged in Vancouver Monday night and on a flight to Hong Kong Tuesday morning.  Contrary to what most people think, the geoducks are not held in water during transport.  If kept cool and moist geoducks can survive for a number of days out of the water.  Geoducks are an intertidal animal and may be exposed for brief periods if they live in shallow water.  When exposed or during transport, geoducks close their siphon to seal in moisture and wait for the tide to rise.