Sea Urchin Harvest

February 14, 2019

Question: With the abalone harvest being closed, we are planning on harvesting urchin during this year’s trip to the coast. Is it legal to be in the water with an abalone iron while harvesting urchin? And is it legal to clean the urchin at the shoreline and only bring the uni or gonads back to the residence for consumption? While we are not able to harvest abalone, we will be happy to harvest urchin to help the abs recover. (Mark C., Chico)

Answer: You are allowed to enter the water with an abalone iron as long as you do not use it to harvest or attempt to harvest abalone. To clean your urchins, you will need to either take them to a designated fish cleaning station or do it at home. Game wardens need to be able to count and identify the species of whatever you have harvested.

That's some stupidness right there.

DFW should be making it as easy as possible and ENCOURAGING people to take, kill, smash, eat, whatever the heck they want with those spiny boogers.

And, its' not an ab iron ocifer....it's an urchin/scallop iron. 

And, MY designated fish cleaning station is my kayak on the shore, or my tailgate.

Nowhere in the regs does it dictate what you can or can't do with your urchins (or other fish) once on shore.

 

I've never eaten urchins but have always wanted to try some. All my ab areas were getting covered by big ones before the closure and I was tempted to harvest a few but not sure what to do with them at that point. Once rock fish and open I'll be down to harvest some with someone who knows what to do after that.... other than putting them in the garden.

And, MY designated fish cleaning station is my kayak on the shore, or my tailgate.

Nowhere in the regs does it dictate what you can or can't do with your urchins (or other fish) once on shore.

 

you having a liquid lunch and not inviting me 

And, MY designated fish cleaning station is my kayak on the shore, or my tailgate.

Nowhere in the regs does it dictate what you can or can't do with your urchins (or other fish) once on shore.

 

you having a liquid lunch and not inviting me 

I wish...just grumpy I guess. 

It IS some BS though!! 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

anyone know where I can find some by foot at low tide?

on a decent - tide up in Fort Bragg, Mendocino. Those  spiny things are everywhere. Van Damn state park is loaded and easy picking on a really good - tide! If you do t have a dive suit you can rent one at the dive shop up there and on a regular low tide you can walk on the rocks in waist deep water and should be able to fill a 5 gallon bucket. There are a lot of other places between there and Mackerricher State park.... Just dont pick anything at Mackerricher during low tide since their tidal pools are protected. you will have to actually dive around there.

MacKerricher is ok for taking urchins, mussels etc at low tide or othervise
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MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area
Permitted/Prohibited Uses:
It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource for recreational and/or commercial purposes, with the following specified exceptions:
All recreational take is allowed in accordance with current regulations.
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