Post by: HEADSHOT on January 24, 2010, 09:02:46 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on January 24, 2010, 09:14:52 AM
January 21, 2010
Contact: Dan Ayres, (360) 249-4628 ext. 209
Marine toxin clouds razor clam dig,
prevents opening at Long Beach
OLYMPIA - Rising marine toxin levels have prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to cancel a razor clam dig scheduled at Long Beach and delay final decisions about digs at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches until next week.
Olympic National Park will also wait until next week to decide on a dig at Kalaloch Beach, pending the results of further biotoxin testing.
Previous plans for a dig starting late next week were put on hold after routine testing found elevated levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in clams collected on coastal beaches, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.
PSP is a marine toxin produced by a certain type of algae that can cause paralysis and even death if consumed in sufficient quantities.
Ayres said toxin levels in clams dug this week at Long Beach violate health standards established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ruling out an opening at that beach. Early next week, WDFW will conduct additional tests on clams collected at the other beaches, where PSP levels also appear to be on the rise.
"It’s always disappointing to cancel a razor clam dig, and we hate to make people wait for answers on the other beaches," Ayres said. "But public safety comes first, which is why we test razor clams before every public dig."
Ayres said final decisions on a revised razor-clam opening will be announced by Thursday, Jan. 28. Unless it is canceled, the dig at Twin Harbors will be delayed, since it was originally scheduled to open Jan. 27, Ayres said.
Updates on the razor clam dig scheduled for next week will be posted on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm .
Frank Cox, marine biotoxin coordinator for the Washington Department of Health, said he suspects PSP is moving northward from the Oregon coast, where beaches have been closed to razor clam digging since December.
"There are a lot of uncertainties about how this will affect Washington beaches, which is why we recommend erring on the side of caution," he said.
Cox noted that the PSP toxin cannot be removed by cooking or freezing. Although no human fatalities from PSP have been reported in Washington since 1942, people still get sick every few years - usually after eating toxic shellfish collected from closed beaches, Cox said.
No coastal beaches have been closed to razor-clam digging because of elevated PSP levels since 1993, Ayres said. A different marine toxin, domoic acid, prompted a season-long closure in 2002-03.
Post by: Shootmoore on January 24, 2010, 09:22:46 AM
Shootmoore
Post by: Tony 270WSM on January 24, 2010, 09:36:20 AM
Post by: the shootist on January 24, 2010, 04:10:06 PM
Anybody know where the closest, and best butter clam digging is from spokane? We went years ago and would like to take my kids for a quick trip, as well as the experiance BUT WHERE TO GO>>>>>
Post by: HEADSHOT on January 25, 2010, 10:29:27 PM
Access: The Nemah site may be accessed by boat or by land at Pickernell Creek off Highway 101. The gravel turnout on the west side of Highway 101 just south of Pickernell Creek (at milepost 38.3 may be used for parking.
Location: Second class tidelands lying in front of, adjacent to, or abutting upon Government Lots 5, 6, and 7, Section 3, and Government Lots 1, 2, and 3, Section 4 Township 12 north, Range 10 west, W.M.: Government Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, Section 34, Section 27, and Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 Section 28, Township 13 north Range 10 west, W.M. lying easterly of the Nemah Oyster Reserve and easterly of privately owned tidelands tracts. The southern boundary of this public tideland area starts near Pickernell Creek and continues to the north approximately 3-1/2 miles.
Boundaries: From mean high water out to the east boundary of private tidelands tracts and the Nemah Oyster Reserve. Some private tideland boundaries fall very close to the shoreline, especially near the southern boundary of these public tidelands. In this area the adjacent landowner has marked their privately owned shellfish bed with white plastic stakes. Please respect private property.
No camping allowed at this site.
There are no sanitary facilities provided at or near this site. Think ahead.
Nearest boat launch is located at Palix River or Bay Center.
For additional information call WDFW Region 6 headquarters (360) 249-4628 or Pacific County Department of Community Development (360) 875-9356
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 25, 2010, 10:48:39 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 30, 2010, 08:18:57 PM
Post by: MuleyMadness on February 02, 2010, 07:40:11 PM
Post by: huntnphool on February 02, 2010, 07:41:13 PM
Post by: HEADSHOT on February 26, 2010, 11:44:59 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 27, 2010, 08:26:31 AM
GUYS, CONSIDERING THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE TODAY, PLUS THIS ADVISORY, I RECOMMEND CHANGING YOUR SATURDAY CLAM DIGGING PLAN TO SUNDAY.
NOTHING WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN TODAY....BUT ALWAYS BETTER TO STAY SAFE.
Post by: HEADSHOT on February 27, 2010, 08:47:25 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 27, 2010, 08:49:38 PM
Post by: HEADSHOT on February 27, 2010, 08:56:04 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 28, 2010, 07:03:19 AM
Yeah, I sort of figured that the big wave would be about an inch or two...but ya never know...
We will be digging today out at ocean shores or copalis. Would love to hit Mocrocks but havent been up there in a few years...where you at?
Post by: HEADSHOT on March 01, 2010, 06:15:52 AM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on March 01, 2010, 08:34:39 AM
Iceman, I tried your recipe for smoked clams. Excellent, thanks.
Post by: Viszla on March 01, 2010, 08:43:40 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on March 02, 2010, 05:44:05 AM
NRA4Life, glad you liked the smoked clam recipe...
We hit Ocean shores for 75 clams in an hour and a half...they were there, but the sand was packed hard where we were and you had to thump the beach pretty hard and watch for the "shows".... Not many folks diggin on Sunday...
Post by: HEADSHOT on March 02, 2010, 07:19:49 PM
Post by: HEADSHOT on March 28, 2010, 09:16:13 AM