Coastal razor clam dig cleared to start Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001

OLYMPIA - Clam diggers got the green light today to start harvesting razor clams on designated ocean beaches at noon Tuesday (Nov. 13) after an analysis of test results showed the clams are safe to eat.

"Marine toxin levels remain low, allowing the November razor clam dig to proceed on schedule, said Dan Ayres, shellfish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Four beaches will be open for razor clam digging from noon until midnight Nov. 13, Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 and a fifth beach - Kalaloch - will be open with the others Nov. 17.

The digging schedule, along with afternoon or evening low tides, is as follows:

• November 13 - (4:54 p.m. -0.4) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• November 15 - (6:29 p.m. -1.2) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• November 16 - (7:14 p.m. -1.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• November 17 - (7:57 p.m. -0.9) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch

Ayres recommends that clammers start digging about an hour before low tide for best results. He also reminds prospective clam diggers that they must have a valid 2001 shellfish/seaweed license, combination license or two-day license to harvest shellfish. For licensing information, see the WDFW website.

Under WDFW rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's limit must be kept in a separate container.

Digging is prohibited in the three razor clam reserves, each one-quarter mile wide and marked by 10-foot orange metal poles with signs. The reserves are located just south of the Ocean City approach on Copalis, at the county line approach on Twin Harbors Beach, and 2.8 miles north of the Oysterville approach on Long Beach.

Areas that will be open to digging on the schedule noted above include:

• Long Beach, from North Head to Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula.
• Twin Harbors, from the South Jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor south to the mouth of Willapa Bay.
• Copalis Beach, from Ocean Shores to the Copalis River.
• Mocrocks Beach, from the Copalis to the Moclips River.
• Kalaloch Beach, from the south beach campground to Trail 3 in the Olympic National Park.

WDFW has scheduled additional digs through Jan. 1, after which further openings may be announced following an assessment of the resource, Ayres said.

Planned openings listed below are all contingent on the results of marine toxin tests, conducted several days prior to those digs:

• December 13 - (5:27 p.m. -0.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• December 14 - (6:13 p.m. -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• December 15 - (6:56 p.m. -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
• December 30 - (6:40 p.m. -0.8) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• December 31 - (7:24 p.m. -1.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• January 1 - (8:09 p.m. -1.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

CALENDAR OF BEACH OPENINGS (noon to midnight)