Most of Jefferson County’s beaches have been closed to recreational shellfish harvesting because of elevated levels of marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, or DSP.
Both have been detected at concentrations above the safety level in shellfish samples collected at many Jefferson County beaches, said the Jefferson County Public Health Department.
That prompted the closure by the state Department of Health of “a significant amount of Jefferson County’s shoreline” to the recreational harvest of shellfish, the county department said in a statement issued today.
Port Ludlow, including Mats Mats Bay for PSP, and Hood Canal from Seal Rock Campground south to the Mason County line for DSP have been closed.
High levels of marine toxins prompted earlier closures of Dabob Bay, Quilcene Bay, Port Townsend and Kilisut Harbor — including Mystery Bay — Discovery Bay, Sequim Bay and beaches from Dungeness Spit to Cape Flattery.
The closures are for recreational shellfish harvesting.
Commercially harvested shellfish are sampled separately and products on the market should be safe to eat, the state Department of Health has said.
Quilcene Bay, Discovery Bay and Dabob Bay recreational beaches are closed because of DSP toxins.
DSP is a marine toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and chills, with symptoms typically passing quickly.
A potentially more serious marine biotoxin — paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP — earlier this summer prompted recreational shellfish closures of beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit west to Cape Flattery, as well as Discovery Bay, Kilisut Harbor, Mystery Bay, Port Townsend Bay, Oak Bay and Admiralty Inlet.
Sequim Bay also was closed earlier this month because of both PSP and DSP.
Warning signs have been posted at high-use beaches warning people not to collect shellfish from these areas.
Seasonal closures for shellfish harvesting are in effect for all Pacific Ocean beaches in both counties.
The closures are for recreational harvest of all shellfish species, including clams, oysters, mussels and scallops.
It does not apply to shrimp.
Crab meat is not known to contain the biotoxin, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts.
Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring marine algae containing toxins harmful to humans.
Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing and potentially death.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider immediately. For extreme reactions, phone 9-1-1.
In most cases, the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen and must be detected using laboratory testing.
Recreational shellfish harvesters should check http://tinyurl.com/8482ksr or phone 800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish.
