Razor Clam Fishery

 

Commercial razor clam harvesters are required to obtain right-of-entry authorizations before harvesting.

DNR requires a Right of Entry (ROE) to commercially harvest Razor Clams. Harvesters may apply for the required ROE in one of two ways:

  • In Person:
    • Starting March 25, 2026: Monday – Thursday between 9:00am and 3:30pm.
    • Visit the Department of Natural Resources main office building located at: 1111 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504-7027.
    • Please bring your current WDFW License, Driver’s License or Government Issued Identification, and a check or money order in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100), payable to Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources.
  • Via email send the following information to razorclam@dnr.wa.gov:
    • First and Last Name
    • Mailing Address
    • Cell Phone Number
    • Email Address
    • Unified Business Identifier (UBI) - if applicable
    • PDF copy of your current WDFW License
    • PDF copy of your Driver's License or Government Issued Identification
    • Confirmation that a check or money order in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100), payable to Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources, was mailed to:

      • Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources

        Aquatic Resources Division

        1111 Washington St SE Olympia WA 98504-7027

Please have a copy of your Right of Entry (ROE) on you at all times while harvesting commercial Razor Clams.

Questions? Contact the fishery manager at (360) 338-2726 or email razorclam@dnr.wa.gov. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Why does DNR require a Right of Entry to commercially harvest Razor Clams?

As the proprietor of state-owned aquatic lands (SOAL), DNR manages the uses that take place on these lands. To fulfill this role, DNR must consider the potential long-term impacts of activities, authorize access, and seek compensation for use of the public's natural resources. Beginning in 2012, DNR required a Right of Entry for individual harvesters to ensure that best management practices (BMPs) are applied at the site. These practices help harvesters protect critical habitat that other species, such as the western snowy plover, share at the site.

Washington State Agencies involved in the Commercial Razor Clam Fishery

About the Commercial Razor Clam Fishery

Washington's commercial wild stock Razor Clam Fishery occurs for about 8 weeks in spring and summer on the detached sand spits at the mouth of Willapa Bay in Pacific County. The sand spits occupy about 7 square miles of state-owned tidelands and are only accessible by boat.

Generally, the most productive commercial harvests on the Willapa Bay sand spits occur between tidal elevations of -3.0 and +2.0 feet but can extend to +3.0. During low tide events, clams are hand dug, placed in buckets, and hauled back to the waiting boat. At the end of the day, the harvesters transport and sell their catch to their licensed buyers. These clams have been used as bait for local crabbing activities and also for human consumption.

About the Willapa Bay Tideland Sand Spits

The sand spits are part of a dynamically moving expanse of sand near the mouth of Willapa Bay, continually changing as the result of wind, waves, and tides. These spits are sometimes shaped into sand islands that rise above the line of mean higher high water (MHHW) of +8.92 feet. These "islands" provide unique habitat isolated from predators on the Long Beach Peninsula.

The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is on the north end of the Long Beach Peninsula at Leadbetter Point. Although this area is designated for commercial harvest, it is also considered critical habitat for nesting western snowy plover - a shorebird that is federally listed as "threatened" with extinction under the Endangered Species Act. DNR's Natural Areas Programs coordinate with WDFW and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor and protect these shorebirds and their habitat.