Entire Oregon coast now open for mussel harvesting, Aug. 28

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the reopening of recreational and commercial mussel harvesting from Tillamook Head, south of Seaside, to Cascade Head, north of Lincoln City. Shellfish samples taken from the area indicate levels of the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) have dropped below the alert level. The area was originally closed to mussel harvesting July 14th. As a result, all mussel harvesting is now open along the entire Oregon coast. Meanwhile, razor clamming remains open only from Tillamook Head to Cascade Head. The harvesting of razor clams remains closed from Cascade Head south to the California border and from the Columbia River south to Tillamook Head. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) annual razor clam conservation closure began July 15 and will end September 30. The conservation closure is not related to the presence or absence of biotoxins. This conservation closure is for razor clams on the Clatsop beaches only, from the Columbia River south to Tillamook Head. Due to the current elevated levels of domoic acid and the conservation closure, the earliest razor clamming on the Clatsop Beaches could open is October 1 if domoic acid levels are below the closure limit at that time. ODA will continue to test for shellfish toxins bi-weekly, as tides permit. Reopening of an area requires two consecutive tests below the closure limit. For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at <http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx>.