THIS IS THE MOST COMPLETE EXPLANATION I HAVE READ AND INCLUDES INFO ON CRABS.
IF YOU HAVE CRABBED AND CLAMMED IN ORE SINCE OCT 5TH....YOU NEED TO DESTROY THE CLAMS... READ WHETHER OR NOT IT AFFECTS CRAB....



View Warnings, Alerts, Closures and Advisories
Type Recreational Shellfish Closure Status
Start Date 10/10/2002
End Date Until Further Notice
Summary Shellfish harvesting closed on Clatsop & Tillamook beaches due to elevated levels of domoic acid
Contact Deb Cannon
Oregon Dept of Agriculture
Food Safety Division
Shellfish Program
635 Capitol St NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532
(503) 986-4728
dcannon@oda.state.or.us
Click Here for Washington State Biotoxin Information

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October 10, 2002… The Oregon Department of Agriculture announces the closure of recreational and commercial harvesting of clams and mussels on beaches and ocean spits from the mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria to Lookout Point south of Netarts Bay. Laboratory tests indicate domoic acid levels in razor clams collected from Clatsop Beaches have risen above the safe level.

All bays in the affected areas are open except for the jetties at the entrances to the bays. Clamming is also prohibited inside the mouth of the Columbia River. Bait harvesting is not allowed during toxin closures.

Any razor clams harvested on Clatsop Beach since Saturday, October 5, 2002, should be destroyed and not consumed. Eating shellfish contaminated with domoic acid, at these low levels, can cause minor illness within minutes to hours after consumption. In mild cases, flu-like symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache. If you experience these symptoms after consuming razor clams, you should contact your physician.

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by marine phytoplankton or algae. Poisoning can cause short term memory loss and is also called amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking, adding baking soda, or any other method.

Commercial razor clams harvested since October 5, 2002, are being recalled. Individuals with razor clams purchased since October 5, 2002, should destroy the clams or return them to the store where purchased.

Only the adductor muscle meat should be eaten from scallops harvested from the Oregon Coast. Crab do not concentrate domoic acid in the meat and are not affected by this closure. However, recreational harvesters are advised not to eat the crab viscera, or guts, at this time.

Commercial oysters and bay clams are sampled directly and products on the market are safe. All bays on the Oregon coast have tested safe and are not closed.

For more information, call ODA's shellfish line (503) 986-4728, Deb Cannon at ODA’s Food Safety Division (503) 986-4720, or the ODA web page (www.oda.state.or.us) for Warnings and Alerts.

Sad to hear, but thanks for keeping everyone up to date ... might end up helping to prevent a serious illness or even saving a life!

I think that WA 's got closed before they opened but OR remained opened until the
tenth...I figure that there may have been
some WA clammers there between the 5th and the 10th.
Note that the date is from OCT 5TH on..Frankly, I'd be a little hesitant about anything prior to that date because OR wasn't
able to test.