PORT TOWNSEND — The state Department of Health has closed Admiralty Inlet, including areas south to Kinney Point on Marrowstone Island, to recreational shellfish harvest after samples found high levels of marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Danger signs are being posted at public access points warning people not to consume shellfish from this area, said officials with Jefferson County Environmental Health &Water Quality.
All species of shellfish are affected, including all clams, oysters, mussels and other invertebrates such as moon snails. All areas also are closed to the sport harvest of scallops.
The most recent closure is in addition to earlier closures.
In Jefferson County, all beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Fort Worden State Park west to the Clallam County line are closed, as well as Kilisut Harbor, including Mystery Bay, and Discovery Bay.
In Clallam County, all beaches on the Strait are closed to shellfish harvesting.
Pacific Ocean beaches are closed for the season.
The closures do not apply to shrimp.
Crab meat does not contain biotoxins, but because guts can contain unsafe levels, officials are recommending that crab be thoroughly cleaned and the guts discarded.
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 paralytic shellfish poisoning (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, call 9-1-1.
For more information about the closures, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ShellfishToxin.
