PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #12.A
Meeting Date: September 2, 2025
TITLE:
Pismo Clam Regulations Discussion
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction to staff regarding future actions that relate to regulations affecting Pismo Clam harvesting.
DISCUSSION:
On July 16, 2024, the City Council directed staff to complete various tasks associated with Pismo Clam education and outreach. A summary of those tasks are shown below in Table 1:
Table 1. Pismo Clam Outreach and Education Task List
Task Status
Updated Signage Completed
Enhanced Outreach (e.g. Social Media, Clam Chronicle, Website) Ongoing Create Measuring Devices Completed
Create/Enhance Partnerships (CA State Parks, CA Fish & Wildlife, Chamber of Commerce) Ongoing
City Employee Outreach Completed
Staff is completing the ongoing tasks that include the enhancement of public outreach and strengthening partnerships with outside entities that have mutual interests in regulations pertaining to the harvesting and preservation of Pismo Clams.
In addition to the ongoing tasks, on June 17, 2025, the City Council directed staff to prepare correspondence to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and request that San Luis Obispo County be considered for inclusion in the Pismo clam harvesting season restrictions set forth for the other counties per California Code of Regulations Title 14 § 29.40, which is shown below:
14 CCR § 29.40 Pismo Clams.
(a) Open season: May be taken in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties September 1 through April 30. In all other counties, except in state marine reserves or other marine protected areas which prohibit the take of clams (see Section 632), Pismo clams may be taken at any time of the year.
(b) Limit: Ten.
(c) Minimum size: Five inches in greatest shell diameter north of the boundary between San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties; four and one-half inches in Council Agenda 9-2-2025 12.A-1
greatest shell diameter south of the boundary, between San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.
(d) Clam preserves: No clams shall be taken within state marine reserves or other marine protected areas which prohibit the take of clams (see Section 632).
City staff met with staff from the CDFW and the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, Biological Sciences Department of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and discussed how the City could restrict the harvesting season to protect the Pismo Clam population. CDFW recommended that the City could consider an electronic petition for a regulation change that is submitted to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) for the City of Pismo Beach. Once received, CDFW staff receives and evaluates the petition and, if approved, submits the petition to the Commission for review and approval. The entire petition process could take up to two years.
CDFW and Cal Poly staff also suggested that the City could consider petitioning for a reduction in the number of clams allowed to be harvested per clammer, per day. As an example, the new limit could be five clams per clammer, per day rather than 10.
Collectively, the closed season in combination with the reduction in the number of clams allowed to be harvested could have a very positive impact that protects and sustains the Pismo Clam population in the city.
Staff recommends that the City Council provide feedback regarding:
1. Staff completing an electronic petition for a regulation change to the California Fish and Game Commission,
2. Staff requesting that the City of Pismo Beach be added as a location that restricts the harvesting season along with Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and
3. Staff requesting a reduction in the total number of clams that may be harvested per clammer, per day from 10 to five, or another amount less than 10.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Provide direction to staff regarding future actions that relate to regulations affecting Pismo Clam harvesting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this discussion.
Submitted by: Mike James, Assistant City Manager
City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 9-2-2025 12.A-2