Pacific Razor Clam

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Pacific Razor Clam

Siliqua patula

Aquaculture Potential

Opportunity Constraints

State of Washington has been operating a hatchery since 1980 (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Can be induced to spawn (Breese and Robinson 1981 Lassuy and Simons 1989)
"…relatively fast growth; the recent successes of enhancement efforts in spawning, rearing, and transplanting razor clams; and a high, stable market price suggest to us (as it did to Schink et al. 1983) that razor clam aquacultural operations remain a distinct future possibility." (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Wild fishery has closed due to Paralytic shellfish poisoning and due to other unknown diseases

In-depth Information Regarding this Species

Alternate Common Names N/A

Range N/A

Habitat Adults bury 30.5 cm below surface (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Substrate Fine grain sand (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Depth range (meters) N/A

Behavior N/A

General Temperature Range (°C) 22.5 (lethal when exposed for 4 hours) (Sayce and Tufts 1971 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)

General Salinity Range (ppt) N/A

Maximum Overall Recorded Size (cm) N/A

Maximum Recorded Size for Males (cm) N/A

Maximum Recorded Size for Females (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length for Males (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length for Females (cm) N/A

Average Maximum weight (kg) N/A

Average Maximum weight for Males (cm) N/A

Average Maximum weight for Females (cm) N/A

Length When Harvested (cm) N/A

Weight When Harvested (kg) N/A

Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Male Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Female Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Overall Maximum Age (years) 7 (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Maximum Age for Males (years) N/A

Maximum Age for Females (years) N/A

Age when Harvested (years) N/A

Overall Growth Rate Male and female grow at same rate (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Male Growth Rate N/A

Mortality Rate 99% in first 8 months (McMillin 1924 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Overall Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Male Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Female Age at Maturity (years) Mature earlier than male (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Overall Length at Maturity (cm) 10
More size than age dependent (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Male Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Female Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Maturity/Temperature Relationship N/A

Type of Reproduction N/A

Fecundity 6,000,000–10,000,000 (McMillin 1924 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Spawning Habitat N/A

Spawning Behavior N/A

Time of Year of Spawning Late spring–Early summer
Mid-May–July (peak) (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Number of Spawns per season N/A

Spawning/Temperature Relationship (°C) Abrupt rise in temp initiates spawning (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
13.5 (critical temperature–initiates spawning) (Weymouth et al. 1925 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Spawning/Salinity Relationship N/A

Description of Eggs N/A

Habitat where Eggs are found N/A

Days to Hatch N/A

Time of Year when Eggs Hatch N/A

Temperature for Egg Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Egg Survival (ppt) N/A

Predators on Eggs N/A

Habitat where Larvae are found N/A

Days in Larval Stage Veliger forms within 10 days (at 11–15°C)
Settle at 35–112 (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Temperature for Larval Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Larval Survival (ppt) N/A

Larval Food Preference N/A

Habitat where Juveniles are found N/A

Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm) N/A

Temperature for Juvenile Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Juvenile Survival (ppt) N/A

Where and When Juvenile Feeds N/A

Juvenile Food Preference N/A

Habitat where Adults are found (depth in meters) N/A

Temperature for Adult Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Adult Survival (ppt) N/A

Adult Feeding Type N/A

Adult Food Preference Main food is Chaetoceros armatum (80–100% of diet) (Tegelberg and Magoon 1969, Lewin et al. 1979a both in Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting N/A

Additional Laboratory Findings N/A

Environmental Considerations N/A

Commercial Fishery Fishery has existed since before 1900's (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Market "…is often referred to as the finest food clam available on Pacific beaches (Lassuy and Simons 1989)."

Sold Fresh or Frozen N/A

Style Species is Sold N/A

Additional Use of the Species N/A

Shelf-life in Fresh State (days at 40°F) N/A

Shelf-life in Frozen State (months at 0°F) N/A

Shelf-life Canned (months) N/A

Weight sold in Oregon (kg) N/A

Ornamental Market N/A

Parasites or Disease Unknown disease in 1984–1985 closed fishery in Washington
Paralytic shellfish poisoning found in Washington (Lassuy and Simons 1989)

Additional Remarks N/A

Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed N/A

Appropriate Aquaculture Systems N/A

Recent Wild Harvest Data for Oregon
Data from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Year Total Catch
(Pounds) Ex-vessel Value
( U.S. Dollars)

1989
32,177

87,962

1990
13,474

39,487

1991
28,580

73,112

1992
0

0

1993
62

142

1994
19,116

28,307

1995
58,830

114,890

1996
2,901

6,585

1997
2,066

7,138

1998
2,526

7,249

Home Species Profiles Top Food Species Top Ornamental Species Additional Information References Contacts

Alternate Common Names	N/A
Range	N/A
Habitat	Adults bury 30.5 cm below surface (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Substrate	Fine grain sand (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Depth range (meters)	N/A
Behavior	N/A
General Temperature Range (°C)	22.5 (lethal when exposed for 4 hours) (Sayce and Tufts 1971 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)
General Salinity Range (ppt)	N/A
Maximum Overall Recorded Size (cm)	N/A
Maximum Recorded Size for Males (cm)	N/A
Maximum Recorded Size for Females (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length for Males (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length for Females (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum weight (kg)	N/A
Average Maximum weight for Males (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum weight for Females (cm)	N/A
Length When Harvested (cm)	N/A
Weight When Harvested (kg)	N/A
Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Male Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Female Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Overall Maximum Age (years)	7 (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Maximum Age for Males (years)	N/A
Maximum Age for Females (years)	N/A
Age when Harvested (years)	N/A
Overall Growth Rate	Male and female grow at same rate (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Male Growth Rate	N/A
Mortality Rate	99% in first 8 months (McMillin 1924 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Overall Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Male Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Female Age at Maturity (years)	Mature earlier than male (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Overall Length at Maturity (cm)	10 More size than age dependent (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Male Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Female Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Maturity/Temperature Relationship	N/A
Type of Reproduction	N/A
Fecundity	6,000,000–10,000,000 (McMillin 1924 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Spawning Habitat	N/A
Spawning Behavior	N/A
Time of Year of Spawning	Late spring–Early summer Mid-May–July (peak) (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Number of Spawns per season	N/A
Spawning/Temperature Relationship (°C)	Abrupt rise in temp initiates spawning (Lassuy and Simons 1989) 13.5 (critical temperature–initiates spawning) (Weymouth et al. 1925 in Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Spawning/Salinity Relationship	N/A
Description of Eggs	N/A
Habitat where Eggs are found	N/A
Days to Hatch	N/A
Time of Year when Eggs Hatch	N/A
Temperature for Egg Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Egg Survival (ppt)	N/A
Predators on Eggs	N/A
Habitat where Larvae are found	N/A
Days in Larval Stage	Veliger forms within 10 days (at 11–15°C) Settle at 35–112 (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Temperature for Larval Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Larval Survival (ppt)	N/A
Larval Food Preference	N/A
Habitat where Juveniles are found	N/A
Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm)	N/A
Temperature for Juvenile Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Juvenile Survival (ppt)	N/A
Where and When Juvenile Feeds	N/A
Juvenile Food Preference	N/A
Habitat where Adults are found (depth in meters)	N/A
Temperature for Adult Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Adult Survival (ppt)	N/A
Adult Feeding Type	N/A
Adult Food Preference	Main food is Chaetoceros armatum (80–100% of diet) (Tegelberg and Magoon 1969, Lewin et al. 1979a both in Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting	Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting	N/A
Additional Laboratory Findings	N/A
Environmental Considerations	N/A
Commercial Fishery	Fishery has existed since before 1900's (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Market	"…is often referred to as the finest food clam available on Pacific beaches (Lassuy and Simons 1989)."
Sold Fresh or Frozen	N/A
Style Species is Sold	N/A
Additional Use of the Species	N/A
Shelf-life in Fresh State (days at 40°F)	N/A
Shelf-life in Frozen State (months at 0°F)	N/A
Shelf-life Canned (months)	N/A
Weight sold in Oregon (kg)	N/A
Ornamental Market	N/A
Parasites or Disease	Unknown disease in 1984–1985 closed fishery in Washington Paralytic shellfish poisoning found in Washington (Lassuy and Simons 1989)
Additional Remarks	N/A
Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed	N/A
Appropriate Aquaculture Systems	N/A

Year	Total Catch (Pounds)	Ex-vessel Value ( U.S. Dollars)
1989	32,177	87,962
1990	13,474	39,487
1991	28,580	73,112
1992	0	0
1993	62	142
1994	19,116	28,307
1995	58,830	114,890
1996	2,901	6,585
1997	2,066	7,138
1998	2,526	7,249