[ODFW-News] Razor clamming opens north of Florence

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, May 10, 2006
 
Razor clamming opens north of Florence

NEWPORT - State fishery officials today announced razor clamming will
open May 11 from the north jetty of the Siuslaw River near Florence to
the mouth of the Columbia River. 

Other beaches south of the Siuslaw River still have domoic acid levels
too high to allow digging. Recent testing of razor clams by the Oregon
Department of Agriculture found domoic acid levels well below the 20
parts-per-million threshold at several testing sites north of the
Siuslaw River jetty at Florence. 

Oregon beaches south of Florence remain closed because of domoic acid
levels more than 20 ppm, ODA officials said. Razor clamming areas north
of Newport to Seaside opened in March this year after a yearlong closure
due to unsafe domoic acid levels.

Normally, razor clamming south of Tillamook Head is open throughout the
year and razor clamming from the Columbia River to Tillamook Head is
open from Oct. 1 through July 14. However shellfish harvesting areas are
closed to all harvesting when toxins exceed an alert level. An alert
level of 20 ppm for domoic acid provides a margin of safety and halts
harvest before toxins reach a higher level that may cause illness. 

A recreational shellfish license is required for anyone 14 years or
older to harvest all shellfish. The daily sport limit for razor clams is
the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Small and broken
clams must be retained. 

"Following the 'first 15' rule is one of the best ways to avoid wastage
and conserve the razor clam resource," said Matthew Hunter, ODFW
shellfish and estuary project leader. "To avoid smaller clams look for a
siphon holes or 'shows' that are dime-sized or larger. If you use a clam
gun to dig, make sure it is at least four-inches in diameter to avoid
damaging the clam. Always remember that small and broken clams, although
harder to clean, are safe to eat and must be included in your bag
limit."

A razor clam reaches an average size of 31/2 inches in its first year
and up to 41/2 inches by the second year. Growth slows after the second
year as energy is used for reproduction rather than accelerated growth.

For more information on Oregon's razor clams, including tips on how to
dig razor clams, visit ODFW's Web site,
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams
<http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams> .
For additional information on shellfish toxins, visit the Oregon
Department of Agriculture website at
http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml
<http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml>  or call the
shellfish hotline at 1-800-448-2474.
###
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/odfw-news/attachments/20060509/531de635/attachment.htm