Shellfish harvesting for all species in Whatcom County has been shut down due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), according to a Wednesday, May 3 announcement from the Washington State Department of Health.
In a Wednesday news release, the Whatcom County Health Department said it will continue to monitor biotoxins in molluscan shellfish, and will notify the public when there is a change in biotoxin levels.
“During a biotoxin event, mussels and varnish clams usually contain the highest toxin concentration,” the release stated. “PSP and other naturally occurring biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Crab meat is not affected, but ‘crab butter’ and crab entrails can harbor biotoxins, so they should always be discarded. Molluscan shellfish include clams, mussels, oysters and scallops.”
For current biotoxin and pollution closures, visit the state Department of Health website at fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html, or call the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632.
