Shellfish Harvester License

Pay Online for Harvester License Renewals

You can pay your renewal online. Learn more at Commercial Shellfish Online Payment Guide (PDF). 

Operations licensed as Harvesters (HA) can harvest shellstock and can ship and sell it to other Washington licensed commercial Shellstock Shippers and Shucker-Packers. Harvesters cannot sell or ship shellfish to retail or to other states or countries. Harvesters do not shuck shellfish, repack shucked shellfish, repack shellstock, or store shellstock in any location other than the approved growing area where the shellstock was harvested. Learn more about the General Requirements for Shellfish Harvester (PDF).

How to Apply for a Harvester (HA) License

To apply for a Commercial Shellfish Harvester license, complete the electronic forms listed below, print, then sign and date where indicated. Make a copy of all documents for your records and mail the originals, with the appropriate License and Biotoxin Fee (PDF), to:

Department of Health, Accounts Receivable, PO Box 1099, Olympia, WA 98504-1099

We cannot process unsigned or incomplete applications.

Submit the Following Forms

  1. License Application (Word)
  2. Plan of Operations for Harvester License (Word)
  3. Harvest Site Application Not a member of a Washington Treaty Tribe
    - Harvest Site Application (PDF)
    - Member of a Washington Treaty Tribe: Tribal Harvest Site Application (PDF)
  4. Plan to harvest oysters from May through September?
    - Vibrio parahaemolyticus Harvest Plan (PDF) - If you intend to harvest oysters from May through September you must complete and return this harvest plan 2 weeks before planned harvest. You may not harvest shellstock oysters from May through September without a Department of Health approved plan. If your plan hasn't changed from the previous year, sign and date your plan, and keep it for your records.

Shellfish Harvester - Razor Clam Only License

This license is for harvesting only razor clams commercially from the Willapa Spits in Cedar River. Harvest of any other shellstock from any other location requires a general harvester license. 

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) typically opens the commercial razor clam fishery in the Spring for eight weeks. A WDFW commercial razor clam license and Washington Department of Natural Resource right of entry authorization is required.

To obtain your own Harvester-Razor Clam Only License, the following information must be submitted and approved before the season starts:

Additional Information

Licensing Information

Commercial shellfish licenses are not transferable. If an operation sells to a new owner, they will need to apply for a new operation and will receive a new certificate number. 

If you need to update a mailing address or add a new owner, complete this Commercial Shellfish License Update Request (PDF).

License Renewal 

All Harvester licenses expire March 31 of each year and must be renewed by April 1 to remain active. Licensed operations will receive their licensing packet by mail about two months before March 31. You can pay by check or online, see Commercial Shellfish License Online Payment Guide (PDF). 

Other Information

Rulemaking Changes: Chapter 246-282 WAC Sanitary Control of Shellfish are the state rules that commercial shellfish operations must follow. DOH recently updated those rules. A summary of the changes and educational documents of the changes can be found below: 

Training: DOH offers rulemaking, Vibrio, and biotoxin training. Training dates can be found here: Commercial Shellfish Training | Washington State Department of Health

Keep and Review