April 10, 2026 — Washington’s 2025 coastal commercial pink shrimp season wrapped up with a total catch of 22.2 million pounds, with the value of state landings reaching $11.4 million.
While multiple shrimp species are found in coastal Washington waters, an article published by The Daily World notes that “only pink shrimp have been abundant enough to support a large, long-term commercial fishery.” That fishery dates back to 1956, when it began off Grays Harbor, driven in part by demand for cocktail shrimp.
Today, activity is concentrated in the ports of Westport and Ilwaco. Landings have varied over time, with catches exceeding 6.5 million pounds in 1958 before dropping to less than 2 million pounds annually through much of the 1960s. In the decades since, harvest levels have fluctuated alongside shrimp abundance and market conditions.