1/23/2023

Three days of razor clam digging on Copalis Beach only starts Saturday, Jan. 21

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today shellfish managers confirmed razor clam digging reopens at Copalis Beach only on Saturday, Jan. 21, followed by additional opportunities on Jan. 23 and Jan. 25.

"We know this is short notice but promised to open any beach as soon as we had good results and those able participate will have some excellent digging," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. "We'll continue to closely monitor toxin levels in razor clams and hope to get Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks reopened as soon as clams are safe to eat."

The following digs during evening (p.m.) low tides will proceed as scheduled:

• Jan. 21, Saturday, 6:23 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Copalis only

• Jan. 23, Monday, 7:52 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Copalis only

• Jan. 25, Wednesday, 9:16 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Copalis only

The Washington Department of Health (WDOH) labs indicate domoic acid levels at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks beaches were still above the health guideline levels.

There may be some "excellent digging" so far as clam numbers go...but there is going to be a big windstorm on the coast this afternoon...watch your back!

Fish on...

Todd

Am I just paranoid that they opened every other day which means folks are not likely to stay down there and feed the local economy? Just day trippin'.

No, you're not paranoid C'man. My guess is that they can spread the harvest among more diggers by spreading out the days among day trippers. But the wind yesterday likely thinned the herd of would be clam diggers. I haven't been there when it happens, but the high winds cause those sneaker waves that have taken a few unwary clam diggers in the past.

That's probably the reason, to get more diggers in total. But is does seem that more efforts need to be made to support the local economies.

Kinda like the conflict between MSY and Ecosystem management.

Every other day is sort of just SOP on the North Beaches (CB/MR)

It's more of an allocation thing to slow down exploitation on the NON-treaty side. QIN get's its 50% share of the total clam harvest from those beaches. For years now, the state-managed digs will go alternate days between CB and MR thru a diggable series of tides, whereas TH to the south (with no treaty rights) will typically be open consecutive days for the entire series.

This strategy effectively slows the state's exploitation rate by ~50% across the entire North Beach. The only reason there weren't digs open at MR on the alternate days was because MR is still officially tainted with DA (as are TH and LB)

It's interesting to me that the domoic acid levels could be safe at one beach, surrounded on both sides by beaches with levels deemed unsafe. Does anyone know what makes this possible? Maybe the Copalis River contributes enough of some combination of freshwater and currents to neutralize or flush a significant amount of toxins?

Politics.

The correct term is “officially tainted” with DA...

Every other beach only.