The Oregon Department of Agriculture's shellfish safety hotline is toll free and provides the most current information regarding shellfish safety closures. The ODA Web pages may not be updated as quickly as the shellfish safety hotline. Please call the shellfish safety hotline before harvesting.
 
Shellfish safety hotline: 503-986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474 toll free.

• All  shellfish harvesting is open from the Columbia River to the California Border
  
• The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended. However, coastal scallops are not affected by toxins when only the adductor muscle is eaten.

Please note: The shellfish safety hotline is updated immediately when shellfish toxins reach the alert level. The hotline is your best source for up-to-date shellfish beach closure information. This Web page is updated soon after. For your safety, call the hotline before harvesting shellfish in Oregon.
 
This Web page provides an update of on-going shellfish safety closures on the Oregon Coast. This information will be updated monthly, or when there are new closures, openings, significant changes in shellfish toxin levels, or other events of interest to harvesters.
 

3/8/13 - South Oregon coast reopened to mussel harvesting
1/14/13 - North and central Oregon Coast reopened to mussel harvesting
11/16/12 - Mussel harvest closure extended to entire Oregon Coast
11/02/12 - ODA reminds public that mussel harvesting closed on south coast
10/18/12 - Mussel harvesting closed on south Oregon Coast
7/27/12 - Mussel harvesting reopened from Tillamook Head to Heceta Head
7/06/12 - Mussel harvesting closed from Tillamook Head to Heceta Head due to marine toxins

 

Shellfish can be contaminated by natural events such as harmful algae blooms (HABs) or man-made events such as sewage spills. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) jointly issue shellfish safety closures to protect recreational shellfish harvesters from consuming clams or mussels contaminated with harmful biotoxins. However, because recreational shellfishing areas are not monitored for fecal coliform, ODA recommends you thoroughly cook all recreationally harvested shellfish prior to consumption.
 
Marine biotoxins -- paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) and domoic acid, are the most common reasons for shellfish closures in Oregon coastal waters. Biotoxins can cause mild to severe health problems for consumers. Visit one of the Web sites below for more information about marine biotoxins.
 
The harmful algae page
Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) - HABs
Olympic Region Harmful Algal Blooms - ORHAB Partnership
More information about Oregon’s shellfish resources
 
Commercial shellfish for human consumption, including oysters, clams and mussels, is part of the ODA Food Safety Program and the US Food and Drug Administration inspection and sampling programs. If you think you have become ill from consuming shellfish (commercially or recreationally harvested) seek medical assistance and contact your local county health department to report your illness.

Recent shellfish samples have indicated that levels of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are below the alert level in shellfish along the entire Oregon Coast. As a result, all recreational shellfish harvesting is open from the Columbia River to the California border.

Coastal scallops are not affected by PST when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended.
 
Shellfish samples are collected regularly, as tides, weather, and surf allow. Warm ocean waters and calm seas are favorable conditions for a bloom of algae that produces PST. A shellfish safety closure is issued immediately if PST levels rise above the alert level of 80 micrograms per 100 grams. For the most current information please check the shellfish safety hotline: (1-800-448-2474).
 
Shellfish contaminated with PST can cause minor to severe illness or even death. PST cannot be destroyed by cooking, by adding baking soda, or by any other method of processing. PST symptoms usually begin with tingling of the mouth and tongue. Severe poisoning can result in dizziness, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, paralysis of the arms and legs, and paralysis of the muscles used for breathing. PST(s) are produced by algae and usually originate in the ocean.
 
 

Domoic acid remains below the alert level in all shellfish along the entire Oregon Coast, from the Columbia River to the California Border. Coastal scallops are not affected by closures when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended.
 
Shellfish samples are collected regularly, as tides, weather, and surf allow. A shellfish safety closure is issued immediately if domoic acid levels rise above the alert level of 20ppm. For the most current information please check the shellfish safety hotline: (1-800-448-2474).
 
Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by marine phytoplankton or algae. Eating shellfish contaminated with domoic acid can cause minor illness within minutes or hours after consumption. The toxin is not destroyed by cooking, by adding baking soda, or by any other method of processing. In mild cases, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and headache. More severe cases can result in memory problems and even death.

The Oregon Coast is open to commercial razor clam harvesting along all Clatsop Beaches. The ODA has authority to restrict the distribution of shellfish sold by commercial processors and will halt distribution if sampling indicates that clams are above the alert level for eitherbiotoxin (20 parts per million (ppm) for domoic acid and 80 micrograms per 100 grams for PST). People are more likely to suffer illness from eating shellfish with higher levels of biotoxins. Harvest controls are implemented when biotoxins reach the alert level, thereby reducing the risk to consumers. Shellfish samples are collected regularly, as tides, weather, and surf allow.

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) also has the authority to restrict razor clam harvesting along Clatsop Beaches. The ODFW issues a conservation closure each year from July 15th to September 31st to protect newly set clams.
 

Week of May 13th, 2013

DA level (ppm)	PST level (μg/100g)	Location	Type of sample
< 1.0	< 35.6	S. Jetty Columbia River	Mussels
< ​1.0	< 37.4​	Clatsop Beaches, Sunset Beach	​Razor Clams
< 1.0​	< 38.1	Silver Point, Arcadia State Park	​Mussels
< 1.0​	​< 37.7	​N. Lincoln County, 15th St. Access	​Mussels
< 1.0​	< 37.4​	Siletz Bay	Purple Varnish Clam
4.1​	< 38.2​	​Newport Beaches, South Beach	​Razor Clams
< 1.0​	​< 36.4	Seal Rock State Park	​Mussels
​< 1.0	​< 38.0	Alsea Bay, North Spit	Softshell Clam
< 1.0​	​< 37.0	​Yachats River, Smelt Sands	​​Mussels
​< 1.0	​< 36.6	Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago	Mussels​
< 1.0​	< 36.6	Gold Beach, Myers Creek	Mussels

Week of May 6th, 2013

DA level (ppm)	PST level (μg/100g)	Location	Type of sample
< 1.0	< 38.8	S. Jetty Columbia River	Mussels
< ​1.0	< 39.0​	​Clatsop Beach, S. Jetty Columbia River	​Razor Clams
< 1.0​	< 38.0	Silver Point, Arcadia State Park	​Mussels
< 1.0​	​< 38.3	​Netarts Bay	​Cockles
< 1.0​	< 39.0​	N. Lincoln County, 15th St. Access	Mussels
< 1.0​	​< 38.9	​Siletz Bay, Schooner Creek	​Purple Varnish Clam
​6.7	​< 37.9	​Newport Beaches, Agate Beach	​Razor Clams
< 1.0​	​< 38.9	​Seal Rock State Park	​​Mussels
< 1.0​	​< 38.8	​Alsea Bay, North Spit	​Softshell Clam
​< 1.0	< 38.1	Cape Perpetua, Neptun State Park	​Mussels
​< 1.0	​< 38.8	Bob Creek Wayside	Mussels
​< 1.0	​< 37.7	Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago	Mussels​
< 1.0​	43.0	Gold Beach, Myers Creek	Mussels