High marine toxin levels in razor clams prompts health warning

May 8, 2015

OLYMPIA - Anyone who took part in the recreational razor clam dig from coastal beaches from Long Beach north to Kalaloch on Thursday, May 7 should destroy all razor clams harvested due to high levels of the marine toxin, domoic acid.

The Washington State Department of Health issued that advisory after discovering elevated levels of domoic acid, which can cause illness if there are high levels. As a result, recreational and commercial razor clam digs scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

As a precaution, all razor clams commercially harvested are being recalled and the department is advising anyone who recreationally harvested razor clams May 7 to destroy them.

See the Washington State Department of Heath news release at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2015NewsReleases/15070RazorClamRecallNewsRelease