PORT ANGELES — The recreational harvest of butter clams is now allowed on most Clallam County beaches from the Dungeness Spit to the Jefferson County line, the state Department of Health announced Friday.
Strait of Juan de Fuca beaches in Clallam County — and east Sequim Bay from Paradise Cove to Blyn — are now closed only to the harvest of varnish clams.
Previously, Clallam County beaches from Pillar Point to the Jefferson County line were closed to butter clams and varnish clams, the Health Department said.
West Sequim Bay remains closed for the harvest of butter clams and varnish clams.
The Health Department lists the following recreational shellfish harvesting restrictions for North Olympic Peninsula beaches:
■ Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cape Flattery to Dungeness Spit is closed to butter clams and varnish clams only.
■ Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit to the Jefferson County line — and Sequim Bay from Paradise Cove to Blyn — is closed to varnish clams only.
■ Discovery Bay and the northwest portion of Sequim Bay, including Middle Ground, are closed to butter clams and varnish clams.
■ Port Ludlow, including Mats Mats Bay and Kilisut Harbor, is closed to butter and varnish clams only.
Ocean beaches in Clallam and Jefferson counties are closed to recreational shellfish harvests annually from April 1 to Oct. 31 because of elevated biotoxin levels.
However, razor clamming is allowed at Twin Harbors and Long Beach in Southwest Washington every morning through Sunday.
Mocrocks Beach also will be open to razor clam digging Friday through Sunday.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the clam digs after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. No digging will be allowed on any beach after noon.