Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers today confirmed razor clam digging reopens at Mocrocks beaches Feb. 4 followed by opportunities there on Feb. 6 and Feb. 8. This is in addition to Copalis Beach digs on Feb. 5 and Feb. 7.
"It's been about nine months since we last had Mocrocks open for digging, so we are thrilled to have diggers return there," said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. "We know this is another short-notice opener, but that's the unfortunate circumstance we face when reopening from a marine toxicity closure. The added bonus is offering harvest opportunities on consecutive days at Copalis and Mocrocks."
This set of digs during evening low tides will proceed after marine toxin results from the Washington Department of Health (WDOH) showed razor clams are safe to eat at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches.
WDOH labs indicate domoic acid levels at Long Beach and Twin Harbors beaches were still above the health guideline levels. WDFW shellfish staff will continue to regularly dig test samples of razor clams to monitor the situation. The DOH requires that two test samples taken around seven days apart must fall under the health guideline level before a beach can reopen for razor clam digging.
Digging is prohibited in razor clam reserves, which are marked by 10-foot poles with signs. The Copalis reserve is located just south of the Ocean City approach.
Under state law, the daily limit is the first 15 clams dug per person regardless of size or condition, and each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
