News / Sports / Outdoors

Long Beach remains closed for razor clams

By The Columbian

Published: March 9, 2017, 6:04am

Razor clam digging during the fall and winter are on afternoon and evening low tides. (FILES/The Columbian)

LONG BEACH, Wash. — Razor clam digging will be open daily through Monday at Twin Harbors beach, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced.

However, hopes for an opening at Long Beach were dashed after toxin levels increased again, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the agency.

Razor clams at Long Beach passed a round of marine toxin testing with results coming in at 18 parts per million, slightly below the 20 parts per million closure level.

Ayres was hopeful for a second clean sample and an opening this weekend, which is not going to happen.

Twin Harbors was not on the tentative schedule to open, but marine toxin tests indicate the clams are safe to eat.

“Toxin levels at Twin Harbors are consistently meeting state public health standards, allowing us to add the beach to this dig,’’ Ayres said.

The digging schedule, including low tides, is:

• Today, Mocrocks and Twin Harbors, -0.1 feet, 4:28 p.m.

• Friday, Copalis and Twin Harbors, -0.3 feet, 5:13 p.m.

• Saturday, Mocrocks and Twin Harbors, -0.3 feet, 5:54 p.m.

• Sunday, Copalis and Twin Harbors, -0.1 feet, 7:31 p.m.

• Monday, Twin Harbors, 0.3 feet, 8:06 p.m.

Digging is allowed only between noon and midnight. Shellfish managers recommend diggers hit the beach an hour or two before low tide.

Kalaloch Beach also will be closed.

The department was unable to collect enough clams for a toxin sample. An abundance survey is planned to learn if there are sufficient clams at Kalaloch to proceed with digs tentatively scheduled later in March and in April.

“We’re not sure what’s happening with clams at Kalaloch,’’ he said. “There were plenty of clams on the beach when we surveyed before the season began. However we’ve seen a decline in clam numbers since then.’’

Clam festival — The annual Long Beach Razor Clam Festival will be April 29 and 30, regardless if there is a digging season.

“Its about friends and families sharing and learning new things while enjoying a morning or two on a spectacularly beautiful Washington beach,’’ said Russell Maize, event chair.

Activities will include a clam chowder taste-off and clam fritter cook-off on April 29.

For more information, call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau at 360-642-2400.

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