Fish and Wildlife Director Opens Razor Clam Fishery in Humboldt County
Razor clam [Photo from CDFW]
The Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Humboldt County following a recommendation from state health agencies that consumption of razor clams in the area no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.
In April 2023, the razor clam fishery was closed in Humboldt County due to risk of domoic acid exposure. During the closure, state health agencies continued to assess domoic acid levels which consistently exceeded the federal action level for domoic acid of ≥ 20 parts per million (ppm). However, clams collected from Clam Beach, Humboldt County in July 2023 all had domoic acid concentrations lower than this action level.
Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain types of plankton that can be harmful or even fatal to humans. Domoic acid poisoning in humans may occur within minutes to hours after consumption of affected seafood and can result in signs and symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to permanent loss of short-term memory (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma, or death. There is no way to prepare clams that will remove the toxin. Cooking and freezing have no effect.
CDFW reminds clammers that the daily bag limit for razor clams is 20 and the first 20 clams dug must be retained regardless of size or condition. Each person is required to keep a separate container and is not allowed to commingle their clams with another person’s when digging and transporting clams to shore.
For more information, please refer to Section 29.20 Clams General and Section 29.45 for specific razor clam regulations.
For more information on any fishery closure information or health advisories, please visit CDFW’s Ocean Health Advisories website.
To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.
For the latest consumption warnings, call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.
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No Coho or Chinook Salmon, no Steelhead no Abalone, no Quillback Rock Fish, no Vermillion Rock Fish, (or is it no Yellow Eye Rockfish?), no Pacific Halibut, no rockfish in under 50 fathoms, etc. etc. etc. And then even if you go that distance and effort to reach the 300′ minimum depth, you can only keep 10 in combination, with limits of much less than ten for many species, meaning that it’s likely you must capture a mixed bag…
Don’t even think about keeping more than say, three Ling Cod or California Halibut, or is it only two of both…
Better not keep more than two of either!
Now that “F-in’ G” , (as the old captain of the Tortuga used to say), has prohibited the take all of these species and more, have they reduced the price of a fishing license…???
Au contraire!
It’s only gone up, up, up, every year…
How do they justify and compensate their expense and all the new “limits” in what a licensed fisherman can even feed himself and his family?
“Let them eat borderline toxic clams.”
And they are opening the razor clam fishery in August, of all months, a month with no “R”…!!!???
Well, I guess they have covered their bases, by including the “CDPH Biotoxin information Line”…!!!
WTF….!!!???
Fish and game…oops Fish and wildlife is getting woker and woker, lead fishing weights are on the list.
The CDFW closed the season for a short period because of the domoic acid exposure. All most people do is just bitch! Catch a few next time they are infected with the domoic acid and eat away. Report back and let us know how you are feeling.
one of the most over taken species of shell fish.
Not really. Horse necks and regular mudflat clams get the nod from me.