OLYMPIA – The recreational razor clam season – originally scheduled to begin Oct. 9 through 14 on four coastal beaches – is postponed until further notice, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.
Test results on razor clams indicate domoic acid levels are trending upward or have exceeded the health guidelines set by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) officials for safe consumption.
“A domoic acid toxin bloom is working its way up the coast with rapidly elevated and closure level samples on Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Clatsop Beach in northwestern Oregon,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “Those conditions are now beginning to break through north of Grays Harbor Bay, so we are acting out of an abundance of caution and putting a pause on opening all beaches. We will work closely with DOH and hopefully will be able to open beaches sometime down the road.”
WDFW shellfish staff will continue to regularly dig test samples of razor clams to monitor the situation. WDFW will announce future digging opportunities when marine toxin tests show it is safe to do so.
Domoic acid, a natural toxin that certain marine algae produce, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less before the start of each digging series. Before a beach can open for digging, the DOH requires two test samples seven to 10 days apart and domoic acid levels under the guideline level. For more information about domoic acid, as well as current levels at ocean beaches, refer to the WDFW’s domoic acid webpage and the DOH webpage.
In previous years, the 2020-2021 razor clam digging season closed early due to domoic acid; 2022-2023 had a domoic acid closure in late fall and winter; and 2023-2024 had a small-window closure at Mocrocks during the beginning of the season. Razor clam digging in 2021-2022, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 was open the entire season.
WDFW originally scheduled 40 days of tentative digs between Oct. 9 through Dec. 27 with varying opening dates at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks.
WDFW’s summer 2026 stock assessment found fewer razor clams on Copalis and Mocrocks than in recent years, while populations on Twin Harbors and Long Beach remain above average. Razor clam populations naturally rise and fall from year to year with ocean conditions, and the allowable harvest on each beach is set as a share of the population size. With smaller populations, diggers can expect fewer digging days on Copalis and Mocrocks once the season opens.
The 2026-2027 Razor Clam Management Plan is available on the WDFW razor clam webpage. WDFW welcomes public input on proposed razor clam schedules and considers this feedback when finalizing each season’s digs. Public comments may be emailed to: [email protected]. For more information, refer to the WDFW’s razor clam webpage.
WDFW works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.