Biotoxin levels in shellfish have led to harvesting closures. What to know
The Washington State Department of Health has closed recreational harvest of molluscan shellfish from Sandy Point up to the Canadian border due to unsafe levels of a paralytic biotoxin. Molluscan shellfish include clams, mussels, oysters and scallops.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning biotoxin was detected in molluscan shellfish at Birch Bay, according to the health department. The biotoxin can cause severe illness and even death, and is not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
Shellfish harvest on tidelands within Lummi Nation are not within the state’s jurisdiction and are closed to all non-Tribal visitors. As of Thursday morning, Lummi Bay and Portage Bay are listed as safe for harvesting of all species.
Shellfish sold in restaurants and markets are tested and safe to eat.
What beaches are closed to recreational harvest?
According to the Washington State Department of Health, the following areas in Whatcom County are now closed to recreational shellfish harvest due to biotoxins:
Birch Bay State Park
Cottonwood Park
Drayton Harbor
Lighthouse Marine Park
North Terrell Creek
Point Whitehorn
Point Roberts
South Birch Point
For the most up-to-date information on shellfish closures, check the Washington Shellfish Safety Map online or call the Biotoxin Hotline at 800-562-5632.