[ODFW-News] Public meeting to be held June 8 on razor clam season

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Public meeting to be held June 8 on razor clam season

ASTORIA - A citizen petition to expand the current July 15 to Sept. 30
closure on razor clamming in Clatsop County will be the subject a public
meeting to be held Tuesday, June 8, in Astoria.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host the meeting to
gain public input on the petition and potential options that will be
presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 11 in Baker
City. 

The citizen petition was submitted to the Commission in May due to
concerns with razor clam wastage. The petition requests the closure
begin before July 15 to allow small clams to grow larger. Some
harvesters have been documented attempting to return a small or cracked
razor clam to the sand in order to harvest a larger, intact clam. The
current bag limit for razors is the first 15 clams taken, regardless of
size or condition. 

ODFW staff will present data and an analysis of a recent wastage survey
from Clatsop Beaches before discussing options and taking public input.
Informational handouts will be available.

The meeting will be held 6 - 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 8, at the Duncan Law
Seafood Consumer Center Main Meeting Room, 2121 Marine Drive, in
Astoria.

For more information, contact Matthew Hunter, ODFW shellfish biologist,
in Astoria at (503) 325-2462, or Patty Burke, ODFW Marine Resources
Manager, in Newport at 541-867-3000, Ext. 226.
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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002