PORT TOWNSEND — Hood Canal from Seal Rock south to the Mason County line has reopened for recreational shellfishing.
Levels of the marine biotoxin that causes diarrhetic shellfish poisoning — or DSP — are currently below the recreational closure level, according to the Jefferson County Public Health Department.
Many of East Jefferson County beaches were closed in July because of elevated levels of DSP as well as the more potentially serious paralytic shellfish poisoning — or PSP.
Many remain closed by the state Department of Health because of marine biotoxin levels, with PSP the primary biotoxin of concern.
Commercially harvested shellfish are tested for toxin prior to distribution and are considered safe to eat, the state Department of Health has said.
East Jefferson County beaches that remain closed to recreational shellfish harvesting are Discovery Bay — which also is closed because of DSP toxin — Admiralty Inlet, Port Townsend Bay, Kilisut Harbor including Mystery Bay, Oak Bay, Mats Mats Bay and Port Ludlow south to the Hood Canal Bridge.
Clallam beaches closed
All Clallam County beaches remain closed for shellfish harvesting of all species.
PSP levels are considered lethal at many sites around Clallam County, according to the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services.
Warning signs have been posted at high-use beaches warning people not to consume shellfish from these areas.
The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish.
It does not apply to shrimp.
Crab meat is not known to contain biotoxins, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts.
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.
PSP symptoms
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.
DSP can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and chills, very similar to gastrointestinal or stomach flu-type symptoms.
Symptoms can begin within a few hours and last one to three days at the most.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a health care provider.
In most cases, the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen and must be detected using laboratory testing.
Before harvesting shellfish, check the state Department of Health website at http://tinyurl.com/7u33gob or phone the state biotoxin hotline at 800-562-5632.