Shellfish Safety News Today

The areas currently meet water quality standards but that may change soon.

The document is a snapshot of some of the organisation’s many highlights during what it says was a busy and productive year

Biotoxins can cause illness and death in humans and mammals that consume them.

The danger of potentially lethal paralytic shellfish poisoning has led to the closure of recreational harvesting of all species of shellfish all along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, including Sequim Bay and Discovery Bay, and beaches on 
Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay.

SEQUIM — Sequim Bay has been closed to the recreational harvesting of all species of shellfish due to a high level of marine biotoxins, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday.

PORT TOWNSEND — The state Department of Health has closed Discovery Bay to recreational harvest of all shellfish species after clam samples were found to have high levels of the biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning, Jefferson County Public Health announced Wednesday.

A sewage spill in Virginia Beach is impacting traffic and has prompted an emergency ban on shellfish harvesting in much of the Lynnhaven River.

Other beaches remain closed to recreational harvesting

The remnants of Hurricane Ian continue to impact the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. Storm stalls off coast for days.

Health officials announced Thursday that a ban on shellfish harvesting in Upper Machodoc Creek in King George County has been extended because of elevated bacteria levels.