PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend Bay, including Fort Flagler beaches, has been reopened for recreational shellfishing of all species, the county reported Thursday.
Kilisut Harbor and Mystery Bay now are open to all species except butter and varnish clams, which tend to retain biotoxins longer than other species.
Levels of the marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have fallen below the recreational closure limit, and the state Department of Health has changed the health status in those areas, the Jefferson County Environmental Health Department said in a news release.
Although the toxin levels in Mystery Bay have improved, the shellfish season at Mystery Bay State Park is closed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife until October.
Discovery Bay remains closed to recreational harvesting of all species of shellfish.
A warning has been issued to cook all shellfish collected on Hood Canal beaches because of the danger of an intestinal illness caused by the vibrio bacteria.
All Clallam County beaches along the Strait of Juan de Fuca are closed to recreational shellfish harvests due to the presence of marine biotoxins.
Sequim Bay is closed due to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. Other Clallam County beaches have been closed to all species for elevated levels of the marine biotoxin that causes PSP.
Pacific Ocean beaches are under seasonal closure for all species.
Commercially harvested shellfish are tested for toxins prior to distribution and should be safe to eat, the state Department of Health said.
Crab meat has not been known to contain biotoxins, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (butter).
Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning 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.
Toxins cannot be detected by sight or smell. Neither cooking nor freezing destroys biotoxins.
Recreational shellfish harvesters can get the latest information before they leave for the beach by visiting www.doh.wa.gov or phoning 800-562-5632.
The emergency regulation hotline is 866-880-5431.
