Razor Clams

RAZOR CLAMS

Females have 6-10 million eggs, of which less than 5% will survive. The ocean temperature must reach 55+ degrees in order for razor clams to release their sperm and eggs into the water.

Larvae that develop from the eggs are free-floating and called veligers. Veligers are carried by the ocean�s current, and over the course of 5-16 weeks (depending on water temperature) they develop a shell and settle to the sea floor as juvenile clams. Approximately 95% of juveniles reaching the beach die of natural causes.

Juvenile clams live close to the surface, usually within the first few inches of sand. As they grow, they bury deeper in the sand. They are a harvestable size of 3.5 inches in one year and 4.5 inches in two. They are able to start reproducing at the age of two.

Shellfish harvest licenses are now required in order to dig clams. These are available at any sporting goods store. Law requires that clammers keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition. Razor clams are very fragile and easily broken: each year thousands of clams are wasted when diggers return small or damaged clams to the sand.