(reverent orchestral music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

For thousands of Washingtonians, razor clamming represents culture and heritage.

To spend an afternoon at the beach on your knees chasing the fast critters through the sand, it's always a fun family adventure, and what's better than fried razor clams?

But the razor clam season has been closed since October, when unsafe levels of toxins were detected in some areas.

The toxin, called domoic acid, is produced by harmful algal blooms nourished by warm coastal waters.

Dungeness crabs, which feed on the clams, can also contain the toxins.

Global warming means these blooms are likely to be more frequent.

State and tribal agencies are monitoring the levels of domoic acid in clam tissues and in the ocean, but it's a complicated process.

Is there a possible short season this spring?

Razor clams spawn in the summer, so the window is closing.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.

(reverent orchestral music)