FILE - An undated photo of a freshly dug razor clam.
Molly Solomon / OPB
Oregon’s northernmost beaches will close to razor clam harvesting starting next week and lasting through the end of the summer, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday.
The annual closure covers all Clatsop beaches — an 18-mile stretch of coastline from the Columbia River south to Tillamook Head — and runs from July 15 through Sept. 30. The closure could extend into October if biotoxin levels fail to meet state safety standards.
Clatsop beaches are Oregon’s most productive beaches for razor clamming, accounting for at least 90% of all razor clams harvested in the state, according to ODFW shellfish biologist Matt Hunter.
Officials close the area to harvesters every year to safeguard the species and give young clams plenty of time to develop, ensuring a healthy population that can meet the demands of future harvest seasons.
Those who want to harvest the sleek, oval-shaped clams from Clatsop beaches can do so through July 14. Fish and wildlife officials said the Oregon coastline from Tillamook Head to Cape Blanco will remain open to razor clamming, with alternative harvest sites near Cannon Beach, Newport, Florence and Coos Bay.
A shellfishing license is required to harvest clams and crabs in Oregon. Harvesters are encouraged to check current conditions online and call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 800-448-2474 for the latest biotoxin report.
