Biotoxin Levels Rise Dramatically in Bellingham Bay

WHATCOM COUNTY – Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have been detected at extremely high levels in shellfish samples collected from Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham Bay.  In the past week PSP levels have risen from dangerous to potentially lethal levels.  Bellingham Bay remains closed to the recreational harvest of all species of molluscan shellfish.  Citizens are warned that consumption of molluscan shellfish from Bellingham Bay is extremely hazardous potentially life threatening.

PSP biotoxin has also been detected in Birch Bay and in Drayton Harbor.  As a precaution, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has expanded this closure to include all Whatcom County beaches. The Whatcom County Health Department will continue to collect samples and will notify the public when conditions change.  The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish.  Crab is not included in the closure, but “crab butter” and entrails should be discarded, and only the meat should be eaten.

Commercially harvested shellfish are tested separately.  Products in local markets have been harvested from areas that are not affected by this closure.  

PSP toxins are naturally occurring and are not destroyed by cooking or freezing.  People can become ill after eating shellfish contaminated with the toxins produced by naturally occurring marine algae.  PSP intoxication can be life-threatening.  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.  If you experience these symptoms contact a health care provider.  For extreme reactions call 911.

In most cases the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen, and must be detected using laboratory testing.  Therefore, recreational shellfish harvesters should check the DOH website at http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm or call the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington State.                     


Contact Person:     Tom Kunesh, R.S.    (360) 676-6724
                                 Environmental Health Supervisor

Joe Bates
Whatcom County
voice: (360) 676-6707 x52510
voice: (360) 220-6654
311 Grand Ave
Bellingahm, Wa 98225
jbates@co.whatcom.wa.us

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