Submitted by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
The 2022-23 Washington recreational razor clam season remains closed until further notice on ALL beaches. Marine toxin levels (specifically domoic acid) remain above the action level or have not yet satisfied requirements for reopening. We will continue testing, but at this time do not have an estimate of when digging can proceed.
Below are the most recent toxin levels provided by Washington Department of Health (WDOH) for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) or Domoic Acid, Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP).
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, in two tests that are at least 10 days apart. The action levels are 20 ppm for domoic acid; 80 µg/100g for PSP; and 16 µg/100g for DSP.
Note that these samples were collected during marginal tides with adverse digging conditions and future sampling may show an increase in toxicity. Only razor clam meat tissue is tested.
These results along with previous results are posted on our website.
Copalis and Mocrocks samples were collected on 01/04/2023. Long Beach and Twin Harbors samples were collected on 01/03/2023.
Long Beach (south)
- domoic acid = 26 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Long Beach (middle)
- domoic acid = 17 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Long Beach (north)
- domoic acid = 25 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Twin Harbors (south)
- domoic acid = 28 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Twin Harbors (middle)
- domoic acid = 20 ppm
- PSP = <38 ug/100g
- DSP = none detected
Copalis Area (south)
- domoic acid = 18 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Copalis Area (middle)
- domoic acid = 19 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Copalis Area (north)
- domoic acid = 19 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Mocrocks (south)
- domoic acid = 20 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Mocrocks (middle)
- domoic acid = 20 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
Mocrocks (north)
- domoic acid = 17 ppm
- PSP = none detected
- DSP = none detected
For more information on razor clams, including how seasons are set, population sampling techniques and how to dig, clean and cook razor clams please see the WDFW website.
