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For Immediate Release: July 7, 2003 (03-117)
Contacts:
Wayne Clifford, Shellfish
Programs, Dept. of Health 360-236-3307
Bob Woolrich, Shellfish Programs, Dept. of Health 360-236-3329
Mary Getchell, Puget Sound Action Team 360-407-7312
Deanna Whitman, Communications Office, Dept. of Health 360-236-4022
Threatened shellfish areas widespread
OLYMPIA ¾ The Department of Health has identified 20 threatened shellfish areas in a record number of 12 counties, according to this year’s Early Warning System.
"Almost every county that grows oysters or clams has at least one area, or part of an area, that is threatened with closure," said Bob Woolrich, Growing Area Section Manager. "This is the first time San Juan and Jefferson Counties have had a threatened shellfish growing area."
The Early Warning System identifies areas that are on the verge of failing public health standards, or water quality is clearly deteriorating, so that problems can be addressed before shellfish harvesting is restricted. Potentially 44 of the state’s 314 currently licensed shellfish companies could be affected if closures occur. Pollution sources threatening the areas include runoff from farm animal waste, sewage systems and wildlife.
The threatened growing areas are:
"This is sad news for Puget Sound. We need to stop the pollution from getting into these shellfish growing areas before we get to the point of closures," said Brad Ack, chair of the Puget Sound Action Team. "This is a call to action for all those involved with protecting our valuable shellfish resources."
Ack highlighted a series of actions to stop manure and bacteria from getting into Puget Sound where shellfish resources are now being threatened. These include homeowners and business owners making sure their septic systems are working properly, managing storm water runoff from developed land and carefully managing farmlands to keep manure from getting into nearby streams.
Washington is the second leading producer of oysters and clams in the nation and the leading producer of farmed oysters and clams. Clean water is critical for both the industry and the public who enjoy harvesting shellfish. Since 1997, three shellfish growing areas that had been listed as threatened have been completely closed due to pollution and no longer appear on the list.
For more information on the state’s strategy to protect Puget Sound area shellfish areas, visit the Puget Sound Action Team’s Web site (http://www.psat.wa.gov/). A map of the threatened shellfish areas is posted on the Department of Health Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/Pubs/Threatareas02.pdf).
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