View Full Version : Clam news
Jennie@ifish
10-10-2002, 03:20 PM
The Domoic Acid levels have elevated above safety levels. The harvest of mussels and clams has been closed from Cape Lookout to the Columbia River effective today (10/10) at noon. Any clams dug from 10/5 to today that diggers still have in their possession should be destroyed and not eaten. A more professional news release will be coming out soon.
Thanks,
J
HawgJaw
10-10-2002, 03:45 PM
Bummer, I'm glad I didn't eat the clams that we dug on Saturday, but I wished I would have known before I cleaned those darn things. Do you think it would still be OK to use them for crab bait? I don't think the acid affects crabs. Right? I'd hate to just throw them away. HJ
Clamman
10-10-2002, 04:45 PM
Crabs can become infected with domoic acid, by eating quantities of infected clams, mussels or oysters. For bait purposes, the clams would probably be okay to use.
The closure extends from the Columbia River down to Cape Lookout, so any crabbing areas south of that would be the safest bet. If you use the clams in a scent box, where the crab can smell them but can't eat them, you would most likely be safe elsewhere. In any case, make sure to clean your crab very well since the toxin will be in the gut cavity in highest concentration.
Claybear
10-10-2002, 07:08 PM
Great, we had a huge feist. :whazzup: :sick: :hoboy:
Some people I know were camping at Fort Stevens last weekend and clammed south of the Peter Iredale. They fried them up that Saturday afternoon. They said they knew that they were told that the clams were ok to dig and so they ate them. They were delicious and they didn't get sick. They now know that they harvested them just in time before the "Red Tide" levels ocurred! They were lucky I guess! :whazzup: