Submitted by San Juan County.

Recreational shellfish harvesting of all species is open again to all San Juan County beaches, except for East Sound. This ends the closure of all beaches announced in late September due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison. While beaches remain open, please check the Washington Shellfish Safety Map (https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html) or call the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before you dig as biotoxin levels can change rapidly.

If you want to harvest shellfish recreationally, there are tips and resources available to help you prevent shellfish-related illnesses.

Have a plan. There is a Shellfish Harvest Planner available online (https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/shellfish/recreational-shellfish/illness-prevention/shellfish-harvest-planner) with tips for having a safe and successful shellfishing trip including checking beach closures, getting your license and knowing the seasons and limits.

Know your shellfish. Different types of shellfish absorb biotoxins at different rates, so you may see closures listed for specific species. Here is an online resource to help you identify different shellfish on our shores: https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/shellfish/recreational-shellfish/illness-prevention/identification.

Handle, store and cook your shellfish properly. Some illnesses, like vibriosis and norovirus, can be prevented with proper harvesting and cooking practices. Check out these online resources!

Recreational shellfish harvesting beach closures do not mean that commercial shellfish operations are closed. You can see which commercial areas are currently “closed” at Shellfish Growing Areas Closures (wa.gov) or sign up for alerts at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new?topic_id=WADOH_269. Commercial growers test shellfish at least weekly for biotoxin levels to protect the health and safety of their customers. They wait for the test results before harvesting and/or distributing the product. Local growers meet strict biotoxin testing requirements and follow multiple shellfish growing and food safety protocols, such as Vibrio Control Plan Rule Requirements and Shellfish Wet Storage Requirements. They also maintain records of where and when shellfish are harvested and distributed, so that shellfish can be recalled, and, if necessary, alert consumers.