The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have extended the closure of all razor clamming to include the entire Oregon Coast due to elevated levels of domoic acid. The closure includes razor clams on all beaches, rocks, jetties, and bays from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border. In addition, all shellfish harvesting remains closed from the Columbia River to Tillamook Head, south of Seaside on the north Oregon Coast due to domoic acid. That closure was ordered on May 8. Meanwhile, recreational mussel harvesting remains closed from Cascade Head, north of Lincoln City, to the north jetty of the Rogue River near Gold Beach on the south coast due to elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST). The harvest of bay clams is open from Tillamook Head south to the California border. This does not include razor clams. Coastal scallops are not affected by these closures when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreational scallops is not recommended. Crab is not affected by the closures. Commercial shellfish products remain safe for consumers. Samples taken from commercial markets show no biotoxins at this time. Domoic acid and PST are produced by algae and usually originate in the ocean. ODA will continue to test for shellfish toxins weekly, as tides permit. Reopening of an area requires two consecutive tests in the safe range. 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>.
