ODFW Advises Against Harvesting Bay Clams in Alsea Bay
ODFW recommends avoiding softshell and bay clams from the Alsea Bay estuary near Waldport after very high saxitoxin levels were detected in nearby Eckman Lake. The recommendation is limited to Alsea Bay and is not a coastwide closure.
NEWPORT, Ore. - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising people not to harvest or eat softshell or bay clams from the Alsea Bay estuary due to concerns about elevated toxin levels.
The recommendation follows an Oregon Health Authority recreational use advisory issued Aug. 28 for Eckman Lake in Lincoln County. Testing detected cyanobacteria and very high levels of saxitoxin, a toxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Eckman Lake drains directly into the Alsea Bay estuary near Waldport. Because contaminated water could reach the estuary, ODFW recommends avoiding softshell and bay clams harvested from Alsea Bay.
The recommendation is specific to Alsea Bay and does not apply to Douglas County waterways or the entire Oregon coast. However, it may affect Douglas County residents who travel to the Waldport area for clamming or other coastal recreation.
Visitors should check current state advisories before harvesting shellfish because conditions and affected areas can change. The Oregon Health Authority advisory contains additional information about conditions at Eckman Lake.
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