MATS MATS BAY — Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning have been detected at concentrations above the closure level in shellfish samples collected from Mats Mats Bay.

As a result, the state Department of Health has closed all beaches in the Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay areas to the recreational harvest of shellfish.

Jefferson County Environmental Health officials recently took water samples from beaches in the area.

The closure area boundaries are from the north entrance to Mats Mats Bay south to a point 4,000 feet southeast of Tala Point.

Commercially harvested shellfish are sampled separately and products on the market should be safe to eat.

Warnings posted

Warning signs have been posted at high-use beaches, warning people not to collect shellfish from these areas.

The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish.

Crab is not included in the closure, but crab butter should be discarded, and only the meat should be eaten, said Neil Harrington, Jefferson County environmental specialist.

Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing and can be life-threatening.

People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring marine algae that contains toxins that are harmful to humans.