News Archive

The Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from state health agencies that domoic acid no longer poses a significant threat. While the razor clam fishery has reopened due to recent tests for domoic acid, the bivalve shellfish health advisory for Del Norte County issued by California Department of Public Health on July 3, 2025, warning consumers not to consume any sport-harvested bivalves (including razor clams, mussels, scallops, and clams, etc.) due to dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins remains in effect. The razor clam fishery remains closed in Humboldt County due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has made the difficult decision to cease hatchery operations at the Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County. A combination of increased regulatory burden and a lack of flexibility, aging infrastructure, significant and necessary costly repairs and maintenance, modernization needs, and low fish production and returns forced the decision to close the steelhead trout hatchery just east of Arcata.

CDFW will hold two public, in-person meetings on May 22 and 23, 2023, in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, respectively, to provide information and receive input regarding elk management within the North Coast Roosevelt Elk Management Unit.

CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Humboldt County following a recommendation from state health agencies determining that consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that its Ocean Ranch Unit in Humboldt County, part of the larger Eel River Wildlife Area, will open to waterfowl hunting and general public access beginning Monday, January 2, 2023.