Washington State Department of Health has closed Port Ludlow and Mats Mats bays to the recreational harvest of shellfish after Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)-causing marine biotoxins were detected at elevated levels in shellfish samples collected May 19. The closure zone extends east around Tala Point but does not include the Tala Shore beach.

Shellfish harvested commercially are tested for toxin prior to distribution and should be safe to eat.

Danger signs are being posted at high-use beaches, warning people not to consume shellfish from this area, including clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, and other species of molluscan shellfish.

This closure does not apply to shrimp, and while crabmeat is not known to contain the biotoxin, the guts (also known as the "butter") can contain unsafe levels. Crab meat should be cleaned thoroughly, and the guts discarded.

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 with 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.