Oregon Closed Statewide Razor Clam Harvesting

State officials shuttered clam digging areas due to unsafe domoic acid levels found in recent testing samples.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Hunting

Gouache-painted illustration of a single razor clam shell on wet sand, representing the Oregon coast shellfish harvesting closure. — Oregon officials have shuttered all recreational razor clam harvesting across the state following findings of dangerous domoic acid levels in shellfish. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Agriculture have closed all razor clam harvesting across the state. The decision follows tests that found domoic acid levels in the shellfish have exceeded the established safety threshold.

Why it matters

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring marine toxin that can cause serious illness in humans if contaminated shellfish are consumed. Closing harvesting areas is a standard public safety measure to prevent foodborne toxicity.

Razor clam harvesting is closed statewide, including at Clatsop Beach, after samples showed domoic acid concentrations surpassing safety limits. Residents can call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 for updates.

The players

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

This state agency is responsible for managing Oregon's fish and wildlife populations and their habitats.

Oregon Department of Agriculture

This department oversees the state's food safety standards and agricultural industry regulations.

The details

The closure affects all recreational razor clamming activities across the Oregon coast, which includes the popular Clatsop Beach area. While razor clams are off-limits, the state has confirmed that mussel harvesting is now open coastwide following recent results.

The statewide razor clam harvest closure was officially announced on October 2, 2026.

Roadmap

This closure follows the mandatory safety triggers outlined in the Oregon Shellfish Biotoxin Closure Protocols. These regulatory measures ensure that public health remains protected by automatically restricting harvesting whenever marine toxin levels exceed safe consumption limits.

Recreational harvesters must cease all razor clam digging immediately to avoid potential health risks. While this stops immediate clamming, enthusiasts should continue to check official state updates for when individual beaches may eventually reopen.

The takeaway

When harvesting shellfish, always prioritize local safety notices over planned recreational trips to avoid exposure to toxins. Checking official state hotlines or agency websites before heading to the coast remains the best way to ensure safety.