PORT ANGELES — Numerous beaches in both Clallam and Jefferson counties have been added to shellfish closures due to elevated levels of marine biotoxins.
The Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Division and the State of Washington Department of Health made the announcements.
In Clallam County beginning Friday, the western Strait of Juan de Fuca from Lyre River/Low Point west to Cape Flattery are closed to all species of shellfish harvesting.
Previously, all of the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, from Lyre River/Low Point to the Jefferson County line, including Dungeness Bay, was closed. Discovery Bay and Sequim Bay were closed in June.
Closed to all species means clams (including geoduck), oysters, mussels and other invertebrates such as the moon snails. All areas are closed for the sport harvest of scallops. These closures do not apply to shrimp. Crab meat is not known to contain bio toxins, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, people should clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (butter).
In Jefferson County, the state Department of Health has closed Fort Flagler, Mystery Bay and Kilisut Harbor for recreational shellfish harvest for all species of mollusks. This does not include crabs and shrimp. Danger signs have been posted at public access points warning people not to consume shellfish from this area.
During the warmer months, the naturally occurring Vibrio bacteria within shellfish is a concern. Hood Canal currently has a Vibrio bacteria warning. The public should cook shellfish from Hood Canal to 145 degrees internal temperature for 15 seconds. Additionally, there are still shellfish closures in Discovery Bay, Quilcene Bay and Dabob Bay.
For more information about this closure, call the Marine Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632, or visit the Department of Health’s Marine Biotoxin Website at www.doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm.
Salmon updates
OLYMPIA — Salmon fishing in the San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7) reopened for additional days Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishery managers determined enough Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for the San Juan Islands summer Chinook fishery through July 16 indicate the fishery has reached 44 percent of the harvest quota (800 of 1,800 fish), 17 percent of unmarked encounters (690 of 3,991 fish) and 9 percent of sublegal encounters (230 of 2,573 fish).
“We are really excited to be able to offer more fishing opportunity for anglers in the San Juan Islands this year,” said Kirsten Simonsen, Ph.D., WDFW’s Puget Sound recreational salmon manager. “We know how disappointed anglers were last year with the news of the early July 2021 closure. With that in mind, planning opportunity for the San Juan Islands became a big focus during the annual North of Falcon salmon season setting process.”
During the July 21-23 opener the salmon daily limit is 2, with up to 1 hatchery Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 22”. Other salmon, no minimum size. Release wild Chinook, wild coho, and chum.
The San Juan Islands will reopen for a hatchery coho only fishery — with all Chinook, chum and wild coho released — from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30.
Marine Area 2
Due to the high Chinook catch rates so far this season in Marine Area 2 (Outer coast south of Queets River), Chinook retention will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Chinook retention will still be allowed Sundays through Thursdays with a daily limit of two, no more than one of which may be a Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minium size and wild coho must be released.
Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1) and the portion of Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2) west of the Buoy 13 line are also open under the same rules as Marine Area 2.
The catch quotas for recreational fisheries North of Cape Falcon in 2022 are 27,000 Chinook and 168,000 hatchery-marked coho, with an Area 2 Chinook guideline of 12,070 and Area 2 coho quota of 62,160.
Marine Areas 1 through 4 are scheduled to close Sept. 30, but areas may close earlier if quotas are met.
