Submitted by San Juan County.

The Washington State Department of Health has closed recreational shellfish harvesting at all beaches in San Juan County due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison. This closure includes all species of molluscan shellfish, including clams, geoduck, scallops, mussels, oysters and snails.

Please check the Washington Shellfish Safety Map or call the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before you dig, as PSP levels can change rapidly.

This countywide beach closure does 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 then 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.

If you experience symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, please seek medical attention immediately. PSP and other biotoxins are poisons that occur naturally in marine waters; however, certain environmental factors can increase the production of these poisons. Molluscan shellfish that filter feed (shellfish with hinged shells such as oysters, clams and mussels) can ingest these biotoxins, which remain in their system. Meat from crab and shrimp is not affected, but “crab butter” and entrails should be discarded during PSP advisories as they may contain biotoxins. When PSP concentrations reach unsafe levels in shellfish, ingesting them can cause illness or death.