Washington court sentences man for overharvesting shrimp

A Washington court has sentenced a man for illegally harvesting shrimp after law enforcement officers caught him in possession of hundreds of shrimp over the daily limit.On 17 May 2024, the opening day of Washington’s shrimp season, undercover officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife observed Washington resident Curtis Grout and two friends harvesting the shrimp in Hood Canal. The three individuals hauled three shrimp pots into the boat, collected the shrimp, and returned quickly to shore before counting how many shrimp had been harvested. The state of Washington sets a daily harvest of 80 shrimp per person.

The undercover officers alerted other WDFW officers of the suspicious activity and asked for a compliance check. As WDFW officers approached the boat as it headed to shore, they observed Grout throwing shrimp overboard. After the men had finally heeded the officer’s orders to stop the boat and stop discarding shrimp, law enforcement seized the remaining shrimp to conduct a count. The officers found 680 shrimp in the basket, 440 shrimp over the daily limit for three men – 240 shrimp. According to WDFW, shrimp harvesters must have a separate container for each harvester’s limit, and any shrimp caught above the limit must be returned to the water immediately.

Witness reported that Grout and two others had conducted a similar operation, hauling three shrimp pots out of the water and returning to shore swiftly without counting their catch, earlier in the day. “Poaching undermines the entire system we have to prevent over-exploitation of natural resources,” Deputy Prosecutor Chris Ashcraft said in a statement. “It disrupts ecosystems, threatens sustainability, and robs future generations of food and recreation. The law’s there for a reason, and doubling down on this violation is doubly indefensible.” Grout was found guilty by a jury, and on 10 March 2025, a Washington court sentenced Grout to 30 days of electronic home monitoring.

“Spot shrimp are a delicacy highly sought after by recreational and commercial fishermen. State and tribal fishery managers work hard to study these populations and set harvest parameters,” WDFW Lieutenant Kit Rosenberger said in a statement.

 “By following shrimp seasons and limits anglers can ensure that shrimp will continue to thrive in our state’s waters for the future.”