The Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Division, announces a recreational shellfish closure in Sequim Bay due to Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning.

Effective immediately, the Washington Department of Health has reinstated the closure of the following beaches for the recreational harvest of the species of shellfish listed. The downgrade was triggered after samples collected indicate DSP present in shellfish in Sequim Bay.

All species means clams (including geoduck), oyster, mussels and other invertebrates such as the moon snail. All areas are closed for the sport harvest of scallops. These closures do not apply to shrimp. Crabmeat is not known to contain the DSP or Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (butter).

It is important to know the difference between butter clams and other species of clams. Butter clams have the ability to retain toxins for a very long time — up to a year or more. Areas may be closed for the sport harvest of butter clams when all other species are safe and open. 

For more information about this closure, call the Marine Biotoxin Hotline at 800-562-5632 or visit the Department of Health’s Marine Biotoxin Website at ww4.doh.wa.gov/gis/biotoxin.htm. 

For additional information, call the Clallam County Environmental Health Food Safety Program at 417-2418. 

These health-related closures are in addition to closures regulated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife closures can be found at www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/shelfish/beachreg/. 

The department’s emergency regulation hotline is 866-880-5431.