Biotoxin Shellfish Closure Modified Due to Latest Sample Results

WHATCOM COUNTY – Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) biotoxin levels continue to drop throughout Whatcom County.  As a result, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has re-opened additional beaches to the recreational harvest of molluscan shellfish.  Please consult Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Regulations for information about open seasons before harvesting.

BEACHES FROM SANDY POINT SOUTH TO THE SKAGIT COUNTY LINE INCLUDING BELLINGHAM BAY, LUMMI ISLAND, AND CHUCKANUT BAY REMAIN CLOSED TO THE HARVEST OF BUTTER CLAMS ONLY DUE TO HIGH TOXIN LEVELS

PSP biotoxin concentration reached deadly levels and peaked at almost 100 times the closure limit in October 2009.  Since then, the Whatcom County Health Department, the Lummi Nation, and the Puget Sound Restoration Fund have continued to sample in the affected areas.  PSP biotoxin has dropped to safe levels in mussels, steamer clams and oysters throughout the county.  Butter clams take longer to purge the toxin and remain unsafe to consume south of Sandy Point.  

The Whatcom County Health Department and commercial shellfish growers will continue to sample to monitor this situation.  Updates to biotoxin and pollution-related closures can be found at the DOH website at http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm or by calling the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632.  Always consult the hotline or the web site for biotoxin closure information before harvesting molluscan shellfish in Washington State.   

Contact Person: Tom Kunesh    (360) 676-6724
Environmental Health Supervisor 
               

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