Current razor clam dig includes South Beach

OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers approved a razor clam dig that runs through this Sunday on three beaches: Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is allowing the digs after marine toxin tests confirmed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat. This is the first dig at Twin Harbors since late November when domoic acid levels spiked there, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for WDFW.

“Toxin levels have been dropping over the last several weeks at Twin Harbors and now meet public health standards,” Ayres said. “This is great news for razor clam diggers.”

The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates and evening low tides:

Feb. 9, Thursday, 5:33 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks, Twin Harbors

Feb. 10, Friday, 6:16 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Mocrocks, Twin Harbors

Feb. 11, Saturday, 6:57 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Mocrocks, Twin Harbors

Feb. 12, Sunday, 7:34 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Mocrocks, Twin Harbors

Copalis will be closed the last three days of the dig while Mocrocks and Twin Harbors remain open. “We’re able to provide more opportunities by opening Mocrocks separately for a few days this dig,” Ayres said.

Copalis beach includes Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas while Mocrocks includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips. Maps of the beaches can be found on WDFW’s razor clam webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/current.html.

Long Beach remains closed to razor clam digging due to elevated levels of domoic acid. A natural toxin produced by certain types of algae, domoic acid can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.