Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) biotoxin levels have dropped in shellfish in northern Whatcom County. Beaches from Sandy Point north to the Canadian border including west Lummi Island and all of Point Roberts are now closed to the harvest of butter and varnish clams only.
Ceremonial, subsistence and commercial shellfish harvest on tidelands within Lummi Nation are under the jurisdiction of Lummi Nation and are closed to all non-tribal visitors. Please visit the Lummi Natural Resources website for the latest harvest information within Lummi Nation.
Molluscan shellfish include clams, mussels, oysters and scallops. Algae that contain marine biotoxins cannot be seen and must be detected by laboratory testing. During a biotoxin event, mussels and varnish clams usually contain the highest toxin concentration. Butter clams and varnish clams often retain toxins long after other species are safe to eat.
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.
Shellfish sold in restaurants and retail markets have been tested before distribution and are safe to eat.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services will continue to monitor biotoxins in molluscan shellfish. We will notify the public when there is a change in biotoxin levels that may affect public health.
Biotoxin levels can change rapidly. Shellfish harvesters are advised to “Know Before You Dig.” Always check for current biotoxin and pollution closures at the Washington Shellfish Safety Map or call the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington State.
PSP biotoxin can cause severe illness and death. Symptoms include numbness and tingling of lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes of eating toxic shellfish or may take an hour or two to develop. Symptoms may progress to tingling of fingers and toes and then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by difficulty in breathing. Some people feel nauseous or experience a sense of floating. If a person consumes enough toxin, the chest and abdomen muscles become paralyzed, including muscles used for breathing, and the victim can suffocate. Death from Paralytic Shellfish Poison has occurred in less than 30 minutes.
Learn more about marine biotoxins at the DOH Marine Biotoxins page.
