Why raise the limit? I have a few ideas. First off this is not because of being off limits for a cycle. It was only one year. Remember last years populations were gangbusters, looks like natural mortality was low over the year. Long Beach would of likely had the same rules and number of days as what we are getting now.

The upcoming fall tides look largely to be in the dark digging. Most people like spring digging in daylight, so effort is limited in that regard. You will have a few "daylight" digs where the crowds will be big, but for most the weekday night tides, with that much opportunity to pick and choose, there won't be that many folks out. So given the large TAC it makes sense to raise the limit. It may get some folks to buy licenses, but it may cut down on trips also.

Regarding the low bar for management comment. Do you know there are only 2 coastal shellfish biologists in WDFW?

Contrast that with how may salmon biologists the pathetic Willapa Bay salmon fishery has. I think there are 4 or 5 working on that.