• About razor clams / FAQs
• Digging razor clams / Wastage
• Regulations
• Toxins and clams
• Harmful Algae
• Life history of razor clams
• Razor clam behavior
• Current research

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Razor clam research

ODFW Marine Resource Program (MRP) Astoria office shellfish staff began annual razor clam stock assessment research in 2004 on the Clatsop Beaches. This is the first program of its kind in Oregon.

Accurate assessments of razor clam populations will help ODFW understand and manage razor clams in the future.

Where 18 miles of beaches from the mouth of the Columbia to Seaside– 95 percent of the states razor clamming effort is in this area. Transects are chosen randomly on an annual basis from each mile of the Clatsop beaches.	Where research is done
When Throughout the spring and summer months, when tides are at their lowest. Because sampling starts 2 hours before peak low tides, it's not unusual to start in the moonlight.	When research is done
How Transects and times are selected, next is the survey Walking up the beach along the transect, biologists determine the elevation of the highest razor clam show. Sampling begins 50 feet above the “high show”. Six points are sampled either North or South (chosen randomly) of each elevation line down to the water line at low tide.	Transect map - click image to see larger

Sampling example

Some early morning sampling	Each sample point is liquefied to 4 feet causing clams within the sample to float
Clams are counted and measured	Results of sampling
Finally they are replaced with their umbo towards the ocean to dig back in.
Results! Click on image to see larger