Connection, collection, culture, and cuisine: Understanding shellfish harvest in Washington
![People on a beach near Quilcene dig for shellfish on the tidelands. Hills rise in the background.](https://makingwaves.psp.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/QuilceneHarvest-1024x768.jpg)
While it may seem foreign to most of the country, walking along public beaches with a shovel and bucket in hand to bring home dinner is a pastime Washingtonians know well. With hundreds of public beaches in Puget Sound, recreational shellfish harvesting allows access to local foods year-round for Washington residents.