Recreational Shellfish Program, Washington State Department of Health

06/12/2026

BIOTOXIN ALERT! Recreational shellfish harvesting in and near Hood Canal is closed. Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) has been detected at dangerously high, potentially lethal, levels in shellfish samples collected around Union, in Hood Canal. It is unsafe to consume recreationally harvested shellfish from the Hood Canal area. Signs are being posted on public beaches warning people not to harvest shellfish from this area. The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of mollusks. Crab and shrimp are not included in the closure.

PSP toxin is not destroyed by cooking or freezing and cannot be removed by cleaning shellfish.

PSP symptoms can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing and potentially death. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider or call 911.

Check the WA Shellfish Safety Map at doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety or recorded Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 for current conditions.

06/12/2026

High temps and low tides ahead! This weekend hot weather is returning to western WA during the lowest tides of the month. Vibrio bacteria grow fast when conditions are warm and shellfish are exposed during low tide. If you’re harvesting shellfish, plan to harvest on the outgoing tide and follow the 3 C’s to have the safest shellfish: CHECK for closures before you harvest, CHILL shellfish right away and keep them cold, and COOK shellfish thoroughly. Cooking oysters and other shellfish to 145°F for at least 15 seconds destroys Vibrio.

Check the Shellfish Safety Map at doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety or recorded Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632.

Get instructions for handling, storing, and cooking shellfish at https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Shellfish/RecreationalShellfish/IllnessPrevention/HandleStoreandCook

06/01/2026

Hot sunny weather and midday low tides this week increase the risk of illness from Vibrio bacteria in shellfish. Use caution if you harvest shellfish:
-- Gather shellfish at the water line as the tide is going out.
-- Begin cooling shellfish immediately after harvesting and keep them cold.
-- Cook shellfish thoroughly to 145° F for at least 15 seconds.

Warm temperatures can allow naturally occurring bacteria levels to increase quickly, especially when shellfish are exposed during low tide. Learn more about Vibrio in shellfish at https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/shellfish/recreational-shellfish/illnesses/vibriosis

Always check the Shellfish Safety Map to make sure the beach is open and approved for harvest before you go: doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety

05/01/2026

Warm weather is back! In warm weather months May through September, take extra precautions when you’re harvesting and handling shellfish to prevent illness from Vibrio bacteria. Learn more about Vibrio in shellfish at https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/shellfish/recreational-shellfish/illnesses/vibriosis

Find instructions for safely handling, storing and cooking shellfish at https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/shellfish/recreational-shellfish/illness-prevention/handle-store-and-cook

04/29/2026

We’ve completed our annual evaluation of all shellfish growing areas in the state. Things are looking better, but we still have some work to do. Take a look at our recent news release.
https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/cleaner-waters-safer-shellfish-washington-reports-progress-harvest-areas

04/17/2026

03/27/2026

The next series of coastal razor clam digs were approved from April 1-7 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks beaches. Copalis and Mocrocks are not open every day during each series of digs, so be sure to check which beach is open before heading out. Digging is allowed during morning (midnight to noon only) low tides.
Additional digs are tentatively planned on April 17-23 and April 30-May 6, pending marine toxin results. Final approval usually occurs about a week or less — sometimes two to three days — before the start of each digging series.
Recent marine biotoxin closures on coastal beaches do not apply to razor clams or crabs. Certain shellfish species accumulate toxins more quickly, to higher levels, and can harbor them longer than other species. Refer to Department of Health's shellfish safety map for details on which species are safe to harvest.
For additional details, refer to our news release at https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-approves-seven-days-coastal-razor-clam-digs-beginning-april-1-additional-dates-planned-through
Photo by Grace Lee.

03/26/2026

Spring has arrived, and the return of daytime low tides brings opportunities for recreational clam, mussel, and oyster gathering across hundreds of Washington’s public beaches now open or soon reopening for shellfish harvesting!

With so many options, WDFW encourages shellfish gatherers to visit less popular public beaches to spread out harvest pressure, which has increased in recent years. New rules are also in effect for the 2026 season to conserve shellfish populations, address harvest effort increases, and promote sustainable shellfish gathering.

Learn about shellfishing rules, bivalve shellfish identification, Puget Sound season guides, and more in our news release: https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-urges-shellfish-harvesters-follow-rules-support-sustainability-state-clam-mussel-and-oyster.

Photo by WDFW of a geoduck, the world’s largest burrowing clam, with a chalky white shell and long brown and tan neck or "siphon". Geoducks weigh an average of 2 to 3 pounds, but can reach more than 8 lbs.

Under new rules in effect for the 2026 shellfishing season, the geoduck daily limit is one per licensed clam digger. This supports species resilience, especially in vulnerable intertidal zone populations, as geoduck beds are slow to recover.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year! If you’d like to bring in the new year with fresh razor clams, digs are underway on some coastal beaches through Tuesday, Jan. 6 during late afternoon/evening low tides. See below and visit WDFW’s Razor Clams page for details at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams.

Ring in the New Year by digging up a batch of razor clams on four coastal beaches! The next series of digs were approved from Dec. 31 through Jan. 6. Not all beaches are open for digging every day, so be sure to check that a beach is open before heading out.
Additional digs in early 2026 are tentatively planned on Jan. 15-21, Jan. 29-Feb. 4, Feb. 14-19, and Feb. 26-March 4, pending marine toxin results. Final approval usually occurs about a week or less — sometimes two to three days — before the start of each digging series.
Recent marine biotoxin closures on coastal beaches do not apply to razor clams or crabs. Certain shellfish species accumulate toxins more quickly, to higher levels, and can harbor them longer than other species. Refer to Department of Health's shellfish safety map for details on which species are safe to harvest.
For details, refer to our news release at https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-approves-seven-days-coastal-razor-clam-digs-beginning-dec-31-additional-27-days-planned-early-0
(Photo by Elizabeth Roberts of Santa greeting a young girl during a razor clam dig at Long Beach near Seaview)

12/12/2025

Areas of western Washington have experienced intense rainfall and major river flooding this week. Stormwater runoff can wash pollutants into shellfish beds. We’ve temporarily closed some commercial shellfish growing areas and recreational shellfish beaches to shellfish harvesting due to excessive rainfall, river flooding, and sewage spills.

If you are planning to harvest shellfish, always check the weather and the shellfish safety map at doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety before you go. Avoid harvesting shellfish during heavy rainfall and for a few days afterwards, especially in populated areas. Harvest away from stormwater pipes and other drainages to the beach.