SEQUIM — Beaches in Sequim Bay have been closed for recreational shellfish harvesting for all species due to high paralytic shellfish poison levels in shellfish samples sent to the state Department of Health.
All species includes clams, geoduck, oysters, mussels and other invertebrate species such as moon snail, according to a press release from the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services.
The closure means the Strait of Juan de Fuca, from Cape Flattery to Discovery Bay, is closed to recreational shellfish harvests.
Closures also are in effect for Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay in Jefferson County.
Coastal beaches have not been sampled since they are already under a seasonal closure by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The beaches at Fort Flagler have not been affected.
Paralytic shellfish poison is a biotoxin released by the marine plankton Alexandrium. Shellfish eat the plankton and the biotoxin can accumulate in their meat.
Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can appear within minutes or hours, include tingling of the lips, tongue, hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing and paralysis.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning can be fatal. People experiencing those symptoms after consuming shellfish should call 911. The heat-stable toxin is not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
Butter and varnish clams retain the toxin for up to a year, which is why they often remain closed longer than other species.
Crabmeat does not retain the biotoxin, but it can be present in crab guts and butter, the white-yellow fat inside the back of the shell, so they should be thoroughly cleaned and the crab butter and guts should be discarded.
For more information, call the Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 or visit www.doh.wa.gov/shellfish safety.htm.
