April 7, 2026 — Pink shrimp’s impact is far from small: Washington’s 2025 coastal commercial season finished with a total catch of 22.2 million pounds, and the value of state landings was $11.4 million.
While other shrimp species inhabit coastal Washington waters, only pink shrimp have been abundant enough to support a large, long-term commercial fishery. The state fishery began off Grays Harbor in 1956, spurred partly by growing demand for “cocktail” shrimp. Activity is now split between the ports of Westport and Ilwaco. Catches in 1958 exceeded 6.5 million pounds but declined to less than 2 million pounds annually through the 1960s. In subsequent decades, landings fluctuated in response to shrimp abundance and market forces.