CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsFish and Wildlife Director Closes Razor Clam Fishery in Del Norte Countyhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/fish-and-wildlife-director-closes-razor-clam-fishery-in-del-norte-countyMarineThu, 09 Nov 2023 16:13:18 GMTThe CDFW Director has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from state health agencies that the consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.<p>The <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=216807&inline" target="_blank">California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County (PDF)</a> following a <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=216808&inline" target="_blank">recommendation from state health agencies (PDF)</a> that the consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.</p> <p>Domoic acid is a neurotoxin produced by <em>Pseudo-nitzschia</em>, a naturally occurring single-celled, marine alga, under certain ocean conditions. Bivalve shellfish, like clams and mussels, accumulate the toxin without being harmed. Razor clams are known to bioaccumulate domoic acid and it may not clear their system until long after a <em>Pseudo-nitzschia</em> bloom has abated.</p> <p>Razor clam sampling <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/394836318cfe4f7494e1c09097a43559/page/Razor-Clam-Biotoxin-Monitoring-Results-(Current-Year)/" target="_blank">from Crescent Beach in Del Norte County in early November</a> found clams exceeding the current federal action level for domoic acid of greater than or equal to 20 parts per million.</p> <p>Domoic acid poisoning in humans may occur within minutes to hours after consumption of affected seafood and can result in signs and symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to permanent loss of short-term memory (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There is no way to prepare clams that will remove the toxin – cooking and freezing have no effect.</p> <p>CDFW will continue to work with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to collect, monitor and analyze razor clams to determine when the recreational clam fishery in Del Norte County can reopen safely.</p> <p>While the recreational fishery in Humboldt County is currently open, razor clam sampling is ongoing. If domoic acid levels exceed federal action levels, the fishery will be closed. CDFW reminds clammers that the daily bag limit for razor clams is 20 and the first 20 clams dug must be retained regardless of size or condition. Each person is required to keep a separate container for their clams and is not allowed to commingle their take with another person when digging and transporting clams to shore.</p> <p>For more information, please refer to Title 14, California Code of Regulations sections 29.20 and 29.45 for razor clam regulations that can be accessed on <a href="/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/Invertebrate-Fishing-Regs#mollusks">CDFW’s website</a>.</p> <p>For more information on any fishery closure or health advisories, please visit CDFW’s <a href="/Fishing/Ocean/Health-Advisories">ocean health advisories website</a>.</p> <p>To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, please call CDFW’s <strong>Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883</strong>.</p> <p>For the latest consumption warnings, please call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Christy.Juhasz@wildlife.ca.gov">Christy Juhasz</a>, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 292-2480<br /> <a href="mailto:Jordan.Traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> Fish and Wildlife Director Opens Razor Clam Fishery in Humboldt Countyhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/fish-and-wildlife-director-opens-razor-clam-fishery-in-humboldt-countyGeneralMon, 07 Aug 2023 12:59:24 GMTThe Director of CDFW has re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Humboldt County following a recommendation from state health agencies that consumption of razor clams in the area no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.<p>The Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=213741&inline" target="_blank">re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Humboldt County (PDF)</a> following a <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=213734&inline" target="_blank">recommendation from state health agencies (PDF)</a> that consumption of razor clams in the area no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.</p> <p>In April 2023, the razor clam fishery was closed in Humboldt County due to risk of domoic acid exposure. During the closure, state health agencies continued to assess domoic acid levels which consistently exceeded the federal action level for domoic acid of ≥ 20 parts per million (ppm). However, clams collected from Clam Beach, Humboldt County in July 2023 all had domoic acid concentrations lower than this action level.</p> <p>Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain types of plankton that can be harmful or even fatal to humans. Domoic acid poisoning in humans may occur within minutes to hours after consumption of affected seafood and can result in signs and symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to permanent loss of short-term memory (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma, or death. There is no way to prepare clams that will remove the toxin. Cooking and freezing have no effect.</p> <p>CDFW reminds clammers that the daily bag limit for razor clams is 20 and the first 20 clams dug must be retained regardless of size or condition. Each person is required to keep a separate container and is not allowed to commingle their clams with another person’s when digging and transporting clams to shore.</p> <p>For more information, please refer to <a href="/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/Invertebrate-Fishing-Regs#mollusks">Section 29.20 Clams General</a> and <a href="https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I02D7F6C75B4D11EC976B000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&bhcp=1" target="_blank">Section 29.45</a> for specific razor clam regulations.</p> <p>For more information on any fishery closure information or health advisories, please visit <a href="/Fishing/Ocean/Health-Advisories">CDFW's Ocean Health Advisories website</a>.</p> <p>To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.</p> <p>For the latest consumption warnings, call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media contacts</strong>:<br /> <a href="mailto:Christy.Juhasz@wildlife.ca.gov">Christy Juhasz</a>, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 292-2480<br /> <a href="mailto:jordan.traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> Razor Clam Fishery in Del Norte County Opens After Closure Since Decemberhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/razor-clam-fishery-in-del-norte-county-opens-after-closure-since-decemberWildlife HealthFri, 24 Jun 2022 16:50:41 GMTThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director has re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from state health agencies that the consumption of razor clams in the area no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director has <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=202511&inline" target="_blank">re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County (PDF)</a> following a recommendation from state health agencies that the consumption of razor clams in the area no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.</p> <p>The razor clam fishery in Del Norte County was re-opened in April 2021 after a five-year closure due to high domoic acid concentrations that persisted in the razor clam population, but was then closed again in December due to public health hazard. Pseudo-nitzschia, a naturally occurring single-celled marine alga, produces the potent neurotoxin domoic acid under certain ocean conditions.</p> <p>During the closure, state health agencies have continued to assess domoic acid levels in razor clams. Two separate clam collections from Crescent Beach, Crescent City this month taken more than a week apart all had domoic acid concentrations below the federal action level of greater than or equal to 20 parts per million.</p> <p>Domoic acid poisoning in humans may occur within minutes to hours after consumption of affected seafood and can result in signs and symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to permanent loss of short-term memory (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There is no way to prepare clams that will remove the toxin. Cooking and freezing have no effect.</p> <p>Health agencies continue to monitor domoic acid in razor clams in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, which are both now open to razor clam harvest.</p> <p>CDFW reminds clammers that the daily bag limit for razor clams is 20 and the first 20 clams dug must be retained regardless of size or condition. The razor clam fishery is open south of Battery Point, Crescent City (Del Norte County) during even-numbered years. Each person is required to keep a separate container for their clams and is not allowed to commingle their take with another person when digging and transporting clams to shore.</p> <p>For more information, please refer to <a href="https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/Invertebrate-Fishing-Regs#mollusks">section 29.20 Clams General and section 29.45 for specific razor clam regulations</a>.</p> <p>For more information on any fishery closure or health advisories, please visit <a href="http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/health-advisories">www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/health-advisories</a>.</p> <p>To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, please call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.</p> <p>For the latest consumption warnings, please call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Christy.Juhasz@wildlife.ca.gov">Christy Juhasz</a>, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 292-2480<br /> <a href="mailto:Jordan.Traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> <p>CDFW photo, razor clam</p>