Two state agencies announced Thursday they had closed the entire Oregon coast to all razor and bay clam harvesting because of historic high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning.
However, crab harvesting remains open along the entire coast.
The coastwide closure expands on a partial closure announced in late May by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a natural marine biotoxin produced by some species of microscopic algae. Biotoxin levels have been increasing, leading to multiple closures in several shellfish species since May 23.
Harvest closures and openings include:
- All razor clamming is closed from the Washington border to the California border;
- All bay clamming is closed from the Washington border to the California border for all clam species in the bays;
- All mussel harvesting remains closed.
The Department of Agriculture has also closed commercial fisheries for oysters in Tillamook, Netarts and Umpqua bays, and closed all commercial harvesting of razor clams and bay clams.
For more information call ODA’s shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at 503- 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.