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615 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org
Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality
360-385-9400 360-385-9444
360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487
August 24th, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mike Dawson
Jefferson County Environmental Health
(360) 385-9444 ext. 301
Port Ludlow including Mats Mats Bay Closed Due to Marine Biotoxins
Port Townsend – Shellfish samples from Port Ludlow have been found to contain elevated
levels of marine biotoxins that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). As a result, the
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has closed Port Ludlow including Mats Mats Bay
for recreational shellfish harvest. Danger signs are being posted at public access points warning
people not to consume shellfish from this area.
The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish
and extends a previous closure that covered only butter and varnish clams. Discovery Bay and
the Strait of Juan de Fuca east to McCurdy (Middle) Point closed in June. Kilisut Harbor and
Mystery Bay closed in July. Admiralty Inlet including areas south to Kinney Point on
Marrowstone Island closed in August. Crabmeat is not known to contain the biotoxin but the
guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (also
known as the “butter”). Shellfish harvested commercially are tested for toxins prior to
distribution and should be safe to eat.
Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing. People can become ill from eating
shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring marine algae containing toxins harmful to
humans. Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begins 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
immediately. For extreme reactions call 911.
In most cases the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen, and must be detected using
laboratory testing. Therefore, recreational shellfish harvesters should check the DOH Shellfish
Safety Map at doh.wa.gov/ShellfishSafety.htm or call the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-
5632 before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington State. Recreational harvesters should
also check Fish and Wildlife regulations and seasons at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish or call the
Shellfish Rule Change Hotline 1-866-880-5431.
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Always working for a safer and healthier community