The Environmental, Economic, and Social Factors that Contribute to the Importance of the Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula) Fishery for Oregon Coastal Communities: A Northern Oregon Case Study

• Main Author: Baker, Laura C.
• Other Authors: Rumrill, Steven, Conway, Flaxen D. L., Becker, Lorene Yokoyama, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon. Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: Pacific; The Beaches; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/xs55mm511

Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula) are narrow oblong bivalves that can be found in sandy habitats along the western coast of the United States, from Alaska (Aleutian Islands) to southern California (Pismo Beach). In Washington state, the razor clam fishery has been documented to be an important contributor to the environment, economy, and culture of coastal communities. By comparison, the environmental, social, and economic factors that contribute to the razor clam fishery in Oregon have been understudied and not fully documented. Approximately 95% of the razor clam population in Oregon can be found along a 29-kilometer beach (Clatsop Beach) in northern Oregon. Early legislation in Oregon (1967) ensures that all people have access to the beaches and the razor clam resource. Through interviews with stakeholders and socio-economic analysis, it was found that the razor clam fishery is an important resource for the communities and economy around Clatsop Beach. Updated economic impacts indicate that revenue generated by domestic travel associated with recreational harvests of razor clams increased by 19% over the past decade (2008 to 2019) in Clatsop County, increasing from $1.5 million USD in 2008 to $1.8 million USD in 2019. However, this revised economic impact does not consider the commercial harvest of razor clams, which typically contributes about 20% of the total annual harvest. Qualitative data analysis indicated that the popularity of recreationally harvesting razor clams increased steadily over the past decade and has become more popular since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis also revealed that Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), the accumulation of the marine biotoxin domoic acid in razor clam tissues, and periodic closures of harvests are the most significant obstacle faced by the commercial fishery. Periodic HAB events can lead to temporary closures of razor clam harvest seasons and typically result in decreased tourism, loss of economic inputs to local communities, and diminished ...