Most of Jefferson County’s beaches have been closed to recreational shellfish harvesting because of elevated levels of marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, or DSP.
“Neither of these toxins can be destroyed by cooking,” said Frank Cox, marine biotoxin coordinator with the state Department of Health.
Both toxins have been detected at concentrations above the safety level in shellfish samples, said the Jefferson County Public Health Department.
That prompted the closure by the state Department of Health of “a significant amount of Jefferson County’s shoreline” to the recreational harvest of shellfish, the county department said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Port Ludlow, including Mats Mats Bay for PSP, and Hood Canal from Seal Rock Campground south to the Mason County line for DSP have been closed.
High levels of marine toxins prompted earlier closures of Dabob Bay, Quilcene Bay, Port Townsend and Kilisut Harbor — including Mystery Bay — Discovery Bay, Sequim Bay and beaches from Dungeness Spit to Cape Flattery.
The closures are for recreational shellfish harvesting.
Commercially harvested shellfish are sampled separately, and products on the market should be safe to eat, the state Department of Health has said.
DSP
Quilcene Bay, Discovery Bay and Dabob Bay recreational beaches are closed because of DSP toxin.
DSP is a marine toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and chills, with symptoms typically passing quickly.
Health officials have been perplexed by DSP, a relatively new occurrence on the North Olympic Peninsula, because they have been unable to test for it themselves.
The state Department of Health has purchased new lab equipment for DSP testing, but the equipment has not been calibrated, Cox said.
Samples of shellfish taken from Peninsula beaches are tested for DSP at a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lab in Seattle and a Food and Drug Administration lab on Dauphin Island, Ala.
“I look forward to the day our equipment is calibrated and up and running so we can do it all ourselves,” Cox said.
“At least we have the cooperation of our federal partners.”
Lab results
Lab results from a mussel taken from Quilcene Bay on July 18 showed a “considerable drop” in DSP toxin to 5.2 micrograms per 100 grams of tissue, Cox said.
But a sample taken from the same site June 18 registered 32.8 micrograms.
“We take action at 16 [micrograms],” Cox said.
A recent sample taken from Brinnon showed 25.8 micrograms per 100 grams of tissue of DSP.
“A lot of areas are experiencing PSP blooms as well,” Cox said.
“This weather may encourage that to continue, or it may drop off in a week or so.”
PSP
PSP, a potentially more serious marine biotoxin, earlier this summer prompted recreational shellfish closures of beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit west to Cape Flattery, as well as Discovery Bay, Kilisut Harbor, Mystery Bay, Port Townsend Bay, Oak Bay and Admiralty Inlet.
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.
“Summer is the time when PSP accelerates,” Cox said.
“It’s not terribly surprising considering the weather we’re having.”
Sequim Bay also was closed earlier this month because of both PSP and DSP.
A sample from Port Ludlow had more than 10 times the limit for PSP, Cox said.
Warning signs have been posted at high-use beaches.
All shellfish
The closures are for recreational harvest of all shellfish species, including clams, oysters, mussels and scallops.
It does not apply to shrimp. Crab meat is not known to contain the biotoxin, but the guts can contain unsafe levels.
Seasonal closures for shellfish harvesting are in effect for all Pacific Ocean beaches in both counties.
Recreational shellfish harvesters should visit http://tinyurl.com/8482ksr or phone 800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish.