Enough razor clams remain for one more day's digging

OLYMPIA- Enough razor clams remain on two ocean beaches to allow the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to schedule one final day of spring digging on two state beaches.

The digs- contingent on low biotoxin results in required tests conducted by the state Department of Health- are scheduled for Saturday, May 11, on Twin Harbors and Copalis beaches.

Final approval of the digs will be announced shortly before the scheduled digging day, if test results indicate biotoxin levels are within safe limits.

"Even though the weather for the last April opener was much improved over earlier digs, turn-out wasn't as high as we expected and enough clams remain for one more digging day," said Dan Ayres, WDFW razor clam biologist.

Digging will be allowed only in the morning (a.m. tide). A low tide of -0.5 feet is scheduled to occur at 6:46 a.m. on May 11.

Twin Harbors beaches include Westport, Grayland and North Cove. The Copalis area beaches include Ocean Shores, Ocean City and Copalis.

Clam diggers must have purchased a 2002-03 annual recreational license, which will remain valid through March 31, 2003, or a two-day license.

The scheduled digs were set in conjunction with the Quinault Indian Nation, which cooperatively manages the razor clam fishery with WDFW on beaches north of Grays Harbor.

Long Beach Peninsula beaches will be closed for digging because of significant wastage levels during the last recreational clam dig in late April, Ayres said.

Kalaloch beaches also are closed to digging until fall under an agreement with Olympic National Park. The Mocrocks area (Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips) will be open only to Quinault Indian Nation tribal members.

May 11, 2002 razor clam digging
(Contingent on marine toxin test results)