PORT TOWNSEND — Discovery Bay in Jefferson and Clallam counties has been closed to recreational harvesting of shellfish because of a high level of marine biotoxins.
The bay had been opened to recreational harvesting last month.
All beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Clallam County are closed to harvesting of all species of shellfish.
In Jefferson County, beaches closed to harvesting of all species of shellfish are those on Discovery Bay and Kilisut Harbor, including Mystery Bay and Port Ludlow including Mats Mats Bay.
Ocean beaches are under an extended seasonal closure.
Closures include clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish. Crab meat is not known to contain the biotoxin, but the guts can contain unsafe levels.
To be safe, the crab should be cleaned thoroughly with the guts discarded.
Shellfish harvested commercially are tested for toxins prior to distribution and are safe to eat, according to the Department of Health.
Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
For more information about the closures, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ShellfishToxin.
