Shellfish staff

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•  Commercial Shellfish Program

•  Growing Area Classification Program

•  Recreational Shellfish Program

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•  Division of Environmental Health
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We inform the public when we close a recreational (public) beach, letting them know that shellfish in that area are not safe to eat.  We issue a news release and notify the local health department about the closure.  We also post closure information on our web site and include it in our recorded hotline (see sidebar on the right).  Warning signs are placed on the beach, but they are often vandalized or stolen.  Beachgoers should not count on warning signs to let them know if a beach is closed for harvest.

We are actively involved in public outreach and education about recreational harvesting.  You can often find our shellfish booth at fairs that typically attract recreational harvesters where we offer informational brochures, a shellfish filter feeding demonstration, and staff are on hand to answer questions.  We also provide educational opportunities to communities, schools, and clubs that are interested in learning about shellfish harvest.

Things to know before you harvest

Contaminated shellfish can make you very sick if you eat them.  Of special concern are biotoxins: there is no antidote for biotoxin poisoning, and high levels can be lethal.  Be informed; be safe.

Always check to see if a beach is approved and open for recreational harvest before going to the beach.  There are several ways to do this: 

• Clickable maps show recreational beaches closed to harvest

• The Shellfish Safety Bulletin is an online text version of recreational closures, listed by county

• A 24-hour Shellfish Safety Hotline 1-800-562-5632 gives recorded information on closures

Closure information is updated whenever changes occur.

You may see closures listed for specific species, while others in that same area are safe to harvest.  Why?  Different species absorb toxins at different rates.  For example:

• Mussels accumulate biotoxins more quickly than other types of shellfish.

• Varnish clams tend to have higher toxin levels. 

• Butter clams and varnish clams can remain toxic long after other species return to safe levels. 

Become familiar with the species in your area, and know what you're harvesting! 

Know your species ID chart. This chart provides pictures and physical characteristics of shellfish commonly found in Puget Sound and Washington coastal areas. Another good source for species information is the Department of Fish and Wildlife's web site. 

Varnish clams: what you should know (WDFW link). Also known as the purple varnish clam or dark mahogany clam, this species originates from Asia.  Although considered an invasive species, varnish clams are becoming popular with recreational harvesters because they are abundant and grow in shallow water, making them easy to harvest. 

Varnish clams concentrate biotoxins at higher levels than other clams and they hold onto the toxin for longer periods of time. They are often found near fresh water sources, making them more susceptible to runoff pollution. They differ from other molluscs in that they are bi-modal feeders; they both filter feed and bottom feed, which may account for the higher toxin levels typically recorded in this species.  This link to the Department of Fish and Wildlife's web site provides detailed information on the varnish clam; see the section on human health concerns if you plan on harvesting this species. 

Freshwater clams.  Freshwater clams, like their marine counterparts, are filter feeders.  There are no water quality standards that apply to freshwater clams, and they are not tested.  Because they live close to sources of contamination and can concentrate toxins, chemicals, pathogenic bacteria, and viruses from their environment, they are not considered safe to eat.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife prohibits the harvest of freshwater clams from all Washington fresh water sources (see Shellfish/Seaweed Species Rules in WDFW's Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet). 

See how shellfish accumulate toxins and pollutants.  Shellfish are filter feeders. They filter large amounts of water daily, removing algae and other particles, good and bad, from the water.  The following video demonstrates how quickly mussels filter algae from water, and helps explain why it's so important to check harvest conditions before you go to the beach. 

• Shellfish filter feeding demonstration

Take time to read these informational brochures, for your health's sake.

• Marine biotoxins defined [pdf].  A "must read" for harvesters.  This document gives an overview of several naturally occurring algae that can produce toxins in shellfish.  For more information on the specific types of biotoxins found in Washington, read:

  • Paralytic Shellfish Poison, also known as PSP or "red tide" [view as pdf]

  • Domoic Acid  which causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) [view as pdf]

  • Okadaic Acid  which causes Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP)[view as pdf]

  • Biotoxins - Myths & Misconceptions  How much do you really know about biotoxins?  Take this quiz to find out.

• Shellfish-related vibriosis [html or pdf] is caused by the bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  What you don't know can make you sick.

• Safe handling, storing, and cooking practices [pdf] gives you information on shelf life, cooking temperatures, and other things you need to know to make sure the shellfish you harvested won't make you sick when you eat them.

• Check our Biotoxin Program page for more in-depth information on biotoxins.

For more information contact Greg Combs at greg.combs@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-3308.

Be safe!  Have fun!  Enjoy Washington shellfish!

Shellfish Harvest Checklist

The following checklist gives information on things you should do before and after harvesting shellfish, and includes links to Department of Fish & Wildlife shellfish regulations (size and catch limits), local health departments, and other useful information. 

Before you harvest:

• Buy a license from Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
• Check Dept. of Fish & Wildlife regulations for:
  • seasons
  • size limits
  • harvest limits

After you harvest:

Other Resources

Hotline Numbers and Links

Shellfish Safety Hotline
800-562-5632

Fishing Regulation Change Hotline
360-902-2500

Recreational Shellfish Emergency Regulations
360-796-3215

County Health Agencies 

State and Federal Agencies

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission 360-438-1180 Puget Sound Partnership 800-547-6863 US Environmental Protection Agency, BEACH Program 206-553-6912 Washington Dept. of Ecology 360-407-6000 Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife 360-902-2200 Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Aquatic Resources 360-902-1100

Washington Sea Grant Program 206-543-6600 Washington State Parks and Recreation 360-902-8844 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Harmful Algae  US Food and Drug Administration, Bad Bug Book Washington State - Access Washington  360-438-1180

Other Links and Resources

Recreational Seafood Safety (Seafood Network Information Center)

•  Paralytic Shellfish Poison

•  Domoic Acid

•  Vibriosis in shellfish

•  Safe handling and cooking practices