For immediate release: October 15, 2009 (09-166)
Contacts:
Frank Cox, Shellfish Program 360-236-3309
Allison Cook,
Communications Office 360-236-4022
Lethal levels of marine biotoxins lead to large recreational shellfish closures
Some north Puget Sound shellfish areas have dangerous levels of
"red tide"
OLYMPIA - Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have been
detected at dangerously high levels in shellfish samples collected from north
Puget Sound. The so-called "red tide" toxin levels have been as much as 100
times higher than the closure level.
The state Department of Health has closed several areas to recreational
shellfish harvest because of these dangerous toxin levels. All of Whatcom County
and all of San Juan County, Deception Pass, Fidalgo Bay, Samish Bay, Sinclair,
and Cypress Islands in Skagit County are closed. The northern part of Whidbey
Island, from Keystone Harbor on the west to Strawberry Point on the east
including Deception Pass, is also closed to recreational shellfish harvest.
A second bloom has recently been detected in Discovery Bay in Clallam and
Jefferson counties, also prompting a shellfish harvest closure. Toxin levels in
Discovery Bay arent as high as those found in north Puget Sound, but should
also be taken seriously.
Warning signs have been posted at popular shellfish beaches warning people not
to harvest from the closed areas. The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels,
scallops, geoduck, and other mollusks. Anyone whos recently harvested shellfish
from these areas should not eat them, and throw them out. Crab isnt included in
the closure, but "crab butter" should be discarded. Only the crab meat should be
eaten. Commercially harvested shellfish currently on the market have been
thoroughly tested and are okay to eat.
Eating shellfish contaminated with biotoxins can make people sick. Marine
biotoxins arent destroyed by cooking or freezing and can be life threatening.
Symptoms can appear within minutes or hours of eating contaminated shellfish.
They usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet,
followed by difficulty breathing, and possibly death. Anyone with these symptoms
should get medical help right away.
The toxin is produced by naturally occurring algae that tend to be more common
during the warmer months of the year. In most cases the algae that contain the
toxins cant be seen, and must be detected through lab testing. Recreational
shellfish harvesters are advised to check the Department of Health
marine biotoxin Web site
(www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm) or call the agency biotoxin hotline,
1-800-562-5632, before harvesting shellfish anywhere in the state.
Editors note:
For local information and updates about these closures, contact:
Tom
Kunesh, Whatcom County Health Dept. 360-676-6724
Mark
Tompkins, San Juan County Dept. of Health 360-378-4474
Corinne Story, Skagit County Public Health Dept.
v 360-336-9380
Aaron J. Henderson, Island
County
Public Health Dept. 360- 679-7350
Andy Brastad, Clallam County Dept. of Health 360-417-2415
Neil
Harrington, Jefferson County Health Dept. 360-385-9411###
