Warning: Shellfish Closure in some Washington State Counties
Shellfish harvesting has been closed in numerous Washington counties due to the presence of the marine biotoxin Alexandrium, which causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). Harvesting is closed whenever naturally occurring harmful biotoxins are detected. Once called "red tides," blooms of naturally occurring biotoxins are now more commonly referred to as Harmful Algal Blooms as there are some red algal blooms that are not harmful. Naturally occurring biotoxins like PSP are not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Please check the Washington State Department of Health for more information and each time before you harvest shellfish: http://ww4.doh.wa.gov/gis/mogifs/biotoxin.htm
Also see: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/422060_tide19.html
Courtesy of SeaDoc intern Sara Heidelberger.
