Cooperative Aquaculture Cooperative Aquaculture Agreements between Private Agreements between Private

Tideland Owners and the Native Tideland Owners and the Native Tribes in Puget SoundTribes in Puget Sound

Brief History of Private TidelandsBrief History of Private Tidelands

1855: Point no Point treaty signed; Tribes 1855: Point no Point treaty signed; Tribes given fishing and hunting rights in “usual given fishing and hunting rights in “usual and accustomed areas” in exchange for and accustomed areas” in exchange for land.land.

1889: Washington State begins selling 1889: Washington State begins selling tidelands to private owners. This tidelands to private owners. This continues until 1969, when between 60 continues until 1969, when between 60 and 80 percent of tidelands were privately and 80 percent of tidelands were privately owned.owned.

1974: Boldt Decision (US v 1974: Boldt Decision (US v Washington): Tribes right to fish in Washington): Tribes right to fish in their U&A is affirmed for salmon and their U&A is affirmed for salmon and groundfish. Did not address shellfish.groundfish. Did not address shellfish.

1994: Rafeedie Decision: Extended 1994: Rafeedie Decision: Extended the ruling of Judge Boldt to include the ruling of Judge Boldt to include NATURALLY OCCURRING shellfish NATURALLY OCCURRING shellfish both in public waterways and on both in public waterways and on private and public tidelands. private and public tidelands.

Rafeedie decision brought up the Rafeedie decision brought up the issue of shellfish growers, and the issue of shellfish growers, and the missed opportunity of tribes in missed opportunity of tribes in harvesting the original natural stock.harvesting the original natural stock.

2007: Shellfish Growers Settlement 2007: Shellfish Growers Settlement allowed growers who had evidence allowed growers who had evidence of cultivation prior to Rafeedie of cultivation prior to Rafeedie exclusive rights to pre-existing exclusive rights to pre-existing farmed tidelands. The tribes, in farmed tidelands. The tribes, in exchange, received funds for exchange, received funds for tideland purchase and enhancement. tideland purchase and enhancement.

Reestablishing tribal clam harvestsReestablishing tribal clam harvests

Suquamish Tribe did a qualitative Suquamish Tribe did a qualitative shellfish population study throughout shellfish population study throughout its exclusive (non-overlapping) U&A its exclusive (non-overlapping) U&A in the late 1990’s.in the late 1990’s.

Determined that the area that best Determined that the area that best combined shellfish density, historical combined shellfish density, historical significance was in Dyes Inlet.significance was in Dyes Inlet.

Dyes Inlet

Dyes Inlet StudyDyes Inlet Study

Cooperated with County Health, Cooperated with County Health, State DOH, US NavyState DOH, US Navy

Dye release and drogue studies done Dye release and drogue studies done to model impacts of storm water and to model impacts of storm water and sewage spills to areasewage spills to area

Study changed classification in North Study changed classification in North Dyes from unclassified to conditional.Dyes from unclassified to conditional.

Drogue and Current Meter StudyDrogue and Current Meter Study

Open Areas in N. Dyes InletOpen Areas in N. Dyes Inlet

Dyes Inlet Manila Clam HarvestDyes Inlet Manila Clam Harvest Approx. 180 private propertiesApprox. 180 private properties

Three year rotational harvest of tribe’s 50% of shellfish. Three year rotational harvest of tribe’s 50% of shellfish. Average of 95% recovery in 3 years of manila clams.Average of 95% recovery in 3 years of manila clams.

Actively harvested since 2004 by individual tribal membersActively harvested since 2004 by individual tribal members

Hand forks only, individual quotas, 40-70 tribal members Hand forks only, individual quotas, 40-70 tribal members per harvest.per harvest.

Most often lower income tribal members participate.Most often lower income tribal members participate.

50-80 Shellfish Biomass Surveys per year50-80 Shellfish Biomass Surveys per year

Monthly fecal coliform monitoring with DOHMonthly fecal coliform monitoring with DOH

Lease ProgramLease Program Began leasing properties for harvest and Began leasing properties for harvest and

enhancement in 2005enhancement in 2005

Property owner signs a 10 year, 3 harvest Property owner signs a 10 year, 3 harvest contract. Paid by stumpage fee after each contract. Paid by stumpage fee after each harvest.harvest.

Grant Funded- tribal members still have full Grant Funded- tribal members still have full income opportunity. Mostly used by lowest-income opportunity. Mostly used by lowest-income individuals.income individuals.

1-3 properties (0.5-1 acre) planted annually with 1-3 properties (0.5-1 acre) planted annually with plans for expansion.plans for expansion.

Future PlansFuture Plans Expansion to other areas: Expansion to other areas:

Concentration in Dyes inlet leaves Concentration in Dyes inlet leaves harvest vulnerable to CSO eventsharvest vulnerable to CSO events

Tideland Purchase and Tideland Purchase and Enhancement: Working with realtors Enhancement: Working with realtors to find new areas within U&A to to find new areas within U&A to purchase and plant.purchase and plant.

Questions?Questions?

Thanks to:Thanks to: Suquamish Tribal FisheriesSuquamish Tribal Fisheries Suquamish MuseumSuquamish Museum US Navy, Washington DOH, Kitsap US Navy, Washington DOH, Kitsap

County Health District, WDFW, County Health District, WDFW, NWIFCNWIFC

Kitsap County Assessor’s officeKitsap County Assessor’s office NOAA NOAA