A bill was introduced in 2024 to make the razor clam the state clam.  House Bill 1984 had a great reception, and while it didn’t become law, the bill is expected to be reintroduced for the 2025-26 session. Mike Chapman (D-24th district), Representatives Joel McEntire (R-19th legislative district), and Cindy Ryu (D-32nd district) introduced the 2024 bill.

Young students throughout the state are enthusiastic about razor clamming and making the razor clam the state clam, as evidenced by the drawing below.

art from a young student on Long Beach peninsula, Washington

The Pacific razor clam well deserves the recognition and honor of state clam. Please join the effort by signing the petition on this website and being in touch. Here is a link to the new bill itself.

The razor clam provides food, income and recreational adventure in Washington state. Digging for razor clams is a fun, nature-oriented activity that attracts men, women and children of all ages. In recent years there have been about 400,000 recreational digger trips annually. A lot of folks!

Pacific razor clams are endemic to the Pacific Northwest and especially abundant on Washington’s coastal beaches. They have been part of the culture of coastal Native American tribes from time immemorial.

Washington has a variety of state symbols, such as a state bird, state song, state flower and state amphibian. We also have a state oyster, the native Olympia. One other state in the union has a clam species as a state symbol, Rhode Island with the quahaug, which is designated as the state shell.

In recognition of the razor clams’ significance to Washington’s history, identity and economy, and to further steward and educate, this initiative  recognizes the Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula, as the state clam.

See story in The Seattle Times (razor clam vs geoduck), and also story in the Aberdeen Daily World.