State OKs shellfish harvest on South Coast

SALEM (AP) — Health officials have reopened Pacific coastal beaches for recreational razor clamming from the south jetty of Yaquina Bay down to the California border.

The state Monday also approved recreational mussel harvesting from Bastendorff Beach near Charleston to the California border.

The Department of Agriculture and Department of Fish and Wildlife says shellfish samples taken last week show levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have dropped to a safe level. The entire coast had been closed to recreational razor clam and mussel harvest since Sept. 21.

Razor clamming is still closed from the mouth of the Columbia to the north jetty of Yaquina Bay, and mussel harvesting is closed north of Bastendorff Beach.