PORT ANGELES — The Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cape Flattery to the Jefferson County line has been closed to recreational harvesting of all species of shellfish because of the danger of potentially deadly PSP, paralytic shellfish poisoning.
The state Department of Health extended the closure Friday.
Earlier, Clallam County public beaches on the Strait were closed for varnish clams east of Cline Spit, Sequim Bay was closed for harvesting of all species and areas west of Cline Spit were closed for both butter and varnish clams.
Sequim Bay in Clallam County and Discovery Bay in both Clallam and Jefferson counties remain closed to harvesting of butter and varnish clams.
In Jefferson County, Quilcene Bay, Dabob Bay, Discovery Bay and Kilisut Harbor, Mystery Bay and Mats Mats Bay remain closed to butter and varnish clam harvesting.
Pacific off-limits
All Pacific Ocean beaches are closed for the season to harvesting of all species, including clams, geoduck, scallops, mussels, oysters, snails and other invertebrates.
Closures do not apply to commercially harvested shellfish, which are tested before sale for safety.
PSP can sicken and possibly kill people with marine toxins that are not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
In most cases, the algae that contains the poisons cannot be seen and must be detected by laboratory testing.
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 possible death.
Anyone experiencing such symptoms should contact a health care provider immediately and call 9-1-1 in extreme cases.
Recreational closures do not apply to shrimp. Crabmeat is safe, but crab innards, also known as butter, may contain harmful levels of toxins. Clean crabmeat thoroughly and discard the guts.
Recreational shellfishers should check the state Department of Health shellfish safety map at www.doh.wa.gov/ShellfishSafety.htm or call the Biotoxin Hotline at 800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington.
Recreational shellfishers also should check the state Fish and Wildlife regulations at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish.