Razor Clam Society

Fellow Razor Clammers:

Washington’s razor clam fishery is the best managed razor clam fishery. The reasons for that exist in the the best practices, dedication, and management foresight that goes into ensuring that Washington’s razor clam fishery continues to be a safe and sustainable resource for all those that utilize the fishery for generations to come.

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) has released the following statement as a followup to its previously announced tentative 2017 Fall / Winter dig schedule. Dig into the data:

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RECREATIONAL RAZOR CLAM OPENER: The first October 2017 recreational razor clam opener remains tentative as the marine toxin tests are completed. The following are the results from the first round of tests:

MARINE TOXIN UPDATE:

Listed below are the most recent marine toxin levels, as announced by the Washington Department of Health (WDOH) on September 21, 2017. This is the FIRST of two rounds of razor clam samples required by WDOH before any recreational razor clam opener. As you can see, these samples are all below the action level for domoic acid, Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP). The second and final round of sampling is scheduled for September 25with results by September 28.

Recall, before a beach can be opened for the harvest of razor clams, WDOH protocol requires that all razor clam samples collected from that beach must test under the action level (20 ppm for domoic acid; 80 µg/100g for PSP; and 16 µg/100g for DSP) on both of the two required sample collections.

Note that in all of these samples; only razor clam meat tissue is tested.

These samples were all collected on 9/18/17.

Long Beach Area E (north):

• domoic acid =   6 ppm
• PSP = <38 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Long Beach Area OY (middle):

• domoic acid =   8 ppm
• PSP = 45 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Long Beach Area XA (middle):

• domoic acid =   5 ppm
• PSP = 41 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Long Beach Area A (south):

• domoic acid =   8 ppm
• PSP = 39 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Twin Harbors Area XH (north):

• domoic acid =   6 ppm
• PSP = 45 ug/100g
• DSP = <1 ug/100g

Twin Harbors Area CL (middle):

• domoic acid =   10 ppm
• PSP = 46 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Twin Harbors Area G (south):

• domoic acid =   12 ppm
• PSP = 44 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Copalis Area GS (north)

• domoic acid =    9 ppm
• PSP = <38 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Copalis Area XL (middle)

• domoic acid =    10 ppm
• PSP = 40 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Copalis Area K (south)

• domoic acid =    12 ppm
• PSP = 41 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Mocrocks Area MP (north)

• domoic acid =    7 ppm
• PSP = <38 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

Mocrocks Area CP (middle)

• domoic acid =    4 ppm
• PSP = <38 ug/100g
• DSP = none detected

 

For more information on marine toxins and other harmful algal blooms, see the following links:

• http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/algal_bloom/index.html
• http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Shellfish/BiotoxinsIllnessPrevention/Biotoxins/AmnesicShellfishPoisoning.aspx
• http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Shellfish/BiotoxinsIllnessPrevention/Biotoxins/ParalyticShellfishPoison.aspx
• http://www.bigelow.org/hab/location.html
• http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/hab/