Mussel Harvesting Back Open Along Entire Oregon Coast

Published 11/09/25 at 6:45 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) – One tasty little seafood morsel is back on the Oregon coastline and ready to jump into your mouth. (Photo Seaside Aquarium)

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced this week that mussel harvesting is now open along the entire Oregon coast, from the Washington border to the California border. Recent marine biotoxin tests have shown levels below the alert threshold, allowing for the reopening.

While mussel harvesting is fully open, other shellfish species have varying restrictions. Razor clam harvesting is permitted from the Washington border to Cape Blanco (Port Orford) but remains closed from Cape Blanco south to the California border. Bay clam harvesting is open coastwide. Recreational crab harvesting is allowed in bays, beaches, piers, jetties, and tide pools, but remains closed in ocean waters through November 30.

ODA continues to monitor shellfish toxin levels at least twice monthly, depending on tides and weather conditions. Areas closed due to biotoxins can only reopen after two consecutive tests show toxin levels below the closure limit.

ODFW photo

Before harvesting, individuals are urged to call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage for the latest updates. For licensing, permits, and harvest regulations, contact ODFW directly. Additional information is available through the ODA Food Safety Program at 503-986-4720.

This year's closures were not nearly as bad as the previous two years.

Back in May of 2024, over 21 people got quite ill from consuming mussels that were affected by the marine biotoxin paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). This and the presence of domoic acid in some species caused the shore-wide closure of all recreational clamming and snagging mussels. All areas in Washington and Oregon were closed to recreational gathering.

Up on the Washington coast, those biotoxin closures were still in effect in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor until later in the year, but beach shellfish gathering was not in season at that time, anyway. It was eventually cleared.

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