Washington tribes finalize $33M shellfish deal

Wednesday, May 16, 2007  

The state of Washington and the federal government have finalized a $33 million settlement with 17 tribes.

The tribes will receive $22 million from the federal government and $11 million from the state. The payment will make up for the shellfish the tribes have the right to harvest on private land.

Tribal leaders praised the end of the decades-old dispute. U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie had ruled that the tribes were entitled to up to half of the naturally grown shellfish catch under 1855 treaties.

Get the Story:
State, Tribes Make a Deal on Shellfish After 17 Years (The Kitsap Sun 5/16)
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