Months with an "R"? Time to harvest shellfish! Okay, so maybe that's a wives tale... but nobody can deny that most shellfish is much better in the cooler months. Want to harvest your own bivalves? You are in luck! Each year, state biologists perform population surveys to stock public beaches with oysters and clams – ready for the harvest! For current shellfish seasons check wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches, the Shellfish Emergency Rule Change Hotline (866) 880-5431, contact the WDFW
customer service desk (360) 902-2700. If you harvest clams or oysters, keep them on ice or eat them soon after harvest. It is best practice to read posted warnings or call the Marine Toxins Hotline 1-800-562-5632 for a recording before consuming product. Visit the Shellfish Safety Map at
doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety. Clam and oyster season are beach specific and may change annually. For a list of local beaches, visit shellfishtrail.org. If you prefer to have the harvesting done for you, head over to a local farm retail store for a fresh selection. On October 5-6, make your way to OysterFest in Shelton, where you can try an array in one place!
All Aboard the Shellfish Trail Like shellfish? Then the Washington Shellfish Trail is where to start your next journey. Since 2017, volunteers have been working with folks that grow, cook, and display shellfish to create a fun trail that bivalve enthusiasts can follow to explore all that is shellfish in Washington. Did you know that the North Bay WDFW property boasts the largest population of Olympia oysters in Puget Sound? How about that Chelsea Oyster Farm has an award winning oyster bar in Olympia’s waterfront core featuring Totten oysters grown in Mason County?
The shellfish trail is a project sponsored by the National Sea Grant Program and was developed by Image In Action Design and Washington Sea Grant. Through a partnership with the mapping and itinerary capabilities of ScenicWA, followers of the trail are able to select geographical tour or focus on one specific type of shellfish.
Want to see more? Stop by the oversized Similar to to Eastern Washington wine Building upon the other Washington trail shellfish frame just inside the front gate at trails, the shellfish trail will bring you from systems such as the Strait of Juan de Fuca OysterFest to catch your family shot in this the Columbia River north to the Canadian Scenic Byway, all of the stops include spegiant frame and tag your visit on Facebook at border and explore not only Washington’s cific points of interest and learning oppor#shellfishtrail. famous oysters, but also clams, geoduck, tunities that will enhance your adventure. and mussels. Visit farms, gather your own This and more are highlighted features on Look over shellfishtrail.org to learn more shellfish off public beaches and attend the trail. Like OysterFest, (October 5-6, about the Washington shellfish trail including events that embrace this resource, like Shelton) water quality and safe shellfish information on itineraries, road trips and OysterFest, (October 5-6, Shelton). The handling are also prominent themes. shellfish sites and events you can enjoy. Washington Shellfish Trail will guide you on your year-round journey. 39 FJORD
