BREMERTON — The Kitsap Public Health District and Washington State Department of Health have closed Dyes Inlet, including Oyster and Ostrich Bays, to all shellfish harvesting due to high levels of marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). This closure includes recreational harvest of all species of shellfish including clams, oysters, and mussels.
Samples of mussels collected on Sept. 9 from the Silverdale Waterfront Park contained PSP toxin concentrations of 80 micrograms per 100 grams of shellfish tissue. Shorelines are closed to harvesting when toxin levels exceed 80 micrograms per 100 grams of tissue.
An existing all-species shellfish closure is in effect in Port Orchard Narrows. This closure includes the west shoreline of Bainbridge Island from the Agate Pass Bridge south to Point White, and on the east shoreline of Kitsap County from Illahee State Park north to Point Bolin, including all bays and inlets (except Liberty Bay).
The existing biotoxin closure for butter clams and varnish clams also remains in effect on Kitsap County’s eastern shoreline from Point No Point in Hansville south to the south shoreline of Bainbridge Island. Closures for varnish clams only also remains in effect for Yukon Harbor and Colvos Passage to the Pierce County line.
Warning signs have been posted at public beaches alerting people not to collect shellfish from the closure areas.
Shrimp and crab are not included in this closure, but crabs should be cleaned prior to cooking, and the “crab butter” should be discarded. Shellfish harvested commercially that are available in stores and restaurants are tested for toxins prior to distribution, and are safe to eat.
Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing and can be life-threatening. People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring marine algae that contains toxins that are harmful to humans. Symptoms of 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. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider. For extreme reactions, call 911.
In most cases, the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen and must be detected using laboratory testing. Kitsap Public Health will continue to monitor shellfish at Kitsap County beaches, and notify the public if the levels of PSP toxin become unsafe in other areas.
For details on all shellfish closures in Kitsap County, call 1-800-2BE-WELL (1-800-223-9355) or click visit www.kitsappublichealth.org. For information on shellfish closures throughout the state, call the Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 or www.doh.wa.gov.
To receive shellfish harvesting or other Kitsap Public Health District updates via email or text message, visit www.kitsappublichealth.org or www.kitsapgov.com and sign-up for Kitsap Public Health District electronic notifications.
