State fisheries officials said Thursday there will be no razor clam digging on the Washington beaches until mid- to late November at the earliest.
Elevated levels of marine toxins have made the clams unsafe to eat.
“If levels continue to decline, we could potentially open some beaches in mid- or possibly late November,’’ said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We know diggers are anxious to get out onto the beaches, but public health is our primary concern.’’
Domoic acid levels on Washington beaches have dropped significantly since last spring, when the agency was forced to close the digging season early. However, concentrations of domoic acid are still above the threshold of 20 parts per million set by state public health officials.
Domoic acid is a natural toxin produced by certain types of algae. It can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. Cooking or freezing does not destroy domoic acid in shellfish.
Since 1991, when the toxin was first detected on the Pacific coast, outbreaks of domoic acid have prompted cancellation of three entire razor clams seasons, the last in 2002-03.
