The window for recreational harvesting of shellfish was short on several beaches in Clallam and Jefferson counties.

A week ago, the state Department of Health announced that the area from the Lyre River east to Dungeness Bay was open to recreational shellfish harvesting, an area that had been closed to harvesting since April 28 because of high levels of the marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) found in samples of shellfish.

The only closures then in effect on the North Olympic Peninsula were for butter clams and varnish clams in Discovery Bay, Sequim Bay and Kilisut Harbor including Mystery Bay, as well as the seasonal closures of Pacific coast beaches to all species.

That changed with recent tests that found high levels of PSP in samples of shellfish, Audrey Coyne, marine biotoxin coordinator for the state Department of Health, said Friday.

The areas between the Lyre River to the Jefferson County line, Discovery Bay and McCurdy Point west to the Clallam County line are now closed to recreational shellfish harvesting, the state said Friday.

The latest test from samples taken Wednesday showed 94 micrograms of PSP per 100 grams of shellfish tissue, Coyne said.

The action level for closure is 80 micrograms per 100 grams of tissue.

The June 13 test had shown levels to be well below that limit.

The levels did drop, Coyne said.

Rain and sunny weather can change the situation quickly, she said.

The state will continue routine testing.

Sequim Bay and Kilisut Harbor including Mystery Bay are open to all but the harvest of butter clams and varnish clams, which can hold toxins for a year.

Ocean beaches are in a seasonal closure now.

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning (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 potentially death.

Toxins cannot be detected by sight or smell. Neither cooking nor freezing destroys biotoxins.

All species means clams, oysters, mussels and other invertebrates including the moon snail. The closures do not apply to shrimp.

Crab meat has not been known to contain biotoxins, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (butter).

Recreational shellfish harvesters can get the latest information before they leave for the beach by visiting http://www.doh.wa.gov or phoning 800-562-5632.

The emergency regulation hotline is 866-880-5431.

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Biotoxin rise leads to closure of beaches to shellfish harvest ... - Peninsula Daily News