Pacific 



Oregon oyster landings remained 

 steady at about 400,000 pounds 

 between 1985 and 1989. Similarly, 

 annual mussel landings remained at 

 50,000 pounds. Clam landings 

 declined from 99,000 to 64,000 

 pounds. Marine biotoxic plankton 

 blooms reduced the scallop harvest 

 from 205,000 pounds to zero. 



Washington is the largest producer of 

 shellfish in the region, harvesting over 

 18 million pounds in 1989. Harvests 

 of oysters, clams, scallops, and 

 mussels have all increased. Four 

 species of scallops were harvested, 

 more than in any other state in the 

 Nation. Scallop harvest increased 

 from 51 ,000 pounds in 1 985 to 

 307,000 pounds in 1989. 



Alaska was once a major producer of 

 razor clams. After reaching a peak of 

 16 million pounds in 1916, over- 

 harvesting, paralytic shellfish poison- 

 ing, and market conditions eliminated 

 commercial landings by 1961. After 

 receiving approval for its Shellfish 

 Sanitation Program in 1975, Alaska 

 began to rebuild its shellfishing 

 industry. Species currently harvested 

 include razor clams, littleneck clams, 

 and geoducks. However, overall 

 landings declined from 1.1 million 

 pounds in 1985 to about 700,000 

 pounds in 1989. An aquaculture- 

 based oyster industry had its first 

 landings (106,000 pounds) in 1989. 

 Local growers are beginning to 

 explore the aquaculture potential in 

 Alaska's high-quality classified 

 shellfish-growing waters. 



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