Where to find razorfish

Dr Peter Macreadie, a marine ecologist, believes that removing all of the razor clams from the lake could cause a catastrophe. Think cane toads! We have to find a way to live with them while letting them continue to be a part of the ecology of the lake. We spoke to Paul Mace at Lake Macquarie City Council to find out what the council is doing to maintain our lakeside swimming areas. Lake Mac Council has a three-pronged approach to Belmont and Toronto baths, as well as other areas that are designated for swimming.

Commercial divers visit each area once a month to sweep for razor clams and blue-ringed octopus. At the end of each season, lifeguards will also do a sweep and remove any they find. This is to prepare the swimming areas ready for summer.

As part of these regular cleans, all rubbish is also removed. These include things like shopping trolleys, bikes, and other bits and pieces that are found dumped in our lake. If you find razor clams in the lake you can contact Lake Macquarie council on 02 An Emergency Doctor at Belmont Hospital provided valuable first-hand advice on what to do. The best thing to do, says the Doctor, is to apply a pressure dressing on the wound.

Be careful this year as you head out into the lake. For more information on great places to swim safely check out our pools, beaches, and baths. There are several species and sub species of razorfish found across the UK, with the scientific names Ensis ensis , Ensis arcuatis and Ensis siliqua being applied to different species. All of these species are similar looking and are considered as a single speices in this article.

Razorfish are found all around the UK and Ireland with their range extending to the rest of Europe with razorfish being found from Scandinavian waters to the Mediterranean. Razorfish have a rectangular shell which is split into two halves. It is somewhat brittle and fragile and is open at either end. The flesh of the razorfish inside is usually a white to pale orange in colour, while the shell itself can be a light brown to olive green.

Razorfish can be over 20cm in length, but most are 10 — 15cm. Razorfish live by burrowing into the sand with their foot. Once the tide comes in and they are covered by seawater they filter feed by straining organic matter and microscopic detritus through their bodies.

When the tide goes back out them go back into their burrows and hide until the tide comes back in again. Although razorfish are blind they can sense movements and pressure changes in the sand around themselves and can disappear back into their burrows in a matter of seconds if they are threatened.

As they are a burrowing shellfish they can only live in densely packed and firm sand. In areas where this type of sand is present razorfish can be abundant and the shellfish beds made up of this species can be vast.

Washed up empty razor shells are a common sight on many beaches , and inset, a dish of steamed razorfish — a delicacy in Asian cuisine. Razorfish grow in the summer when the weather is hot and there is a plentiful supply of food.

In winter they continue to feed but their growth rate slows. They can increase in size by a few centimetres every year until they reach their maximum size of around 20cm. Razorfish are thought to be able to live for up to twenty years. Spawning takes place in the summer when the male razorfish release sperm which is collected in the females gills.

We often walk through Razorfish beds on this walk. This is a method of low water fishing that really has excitement and drama like no other. Years ago many families looking for a way of keeping their children busy would pop down to the beach in search of Razor clams -locally known as Razorfish.

Not only were the children kept amused, but they also caught their supper. Find an area of sandy shore right down by the low tide line. Usually, tides below 1. We often find them near Icho Tower and also at the south side of the main channel leading out from La Rocque harbour. The Icho and Two Towers walks are the best walks to find Razorfish on. Dates of our seabed explorations are listed here.

The best walk to join to see Razorfish is on the Icho Tower walks. We walk through at least one Razorfish bed. Remember to bring a packet of salt.