Shellfish harvesting reopens in north Whatcom County

Whatcom County Health Department announced that paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) biotoxin levels returned to safe enough levels for north Whatcom County beaches to reopen shellfish harvesting. Harvesting is open from Sandy Point to Point Roberts, while beaches south of Sandy Point remain closed.
Commercial shellfish in restaurants and markets are safe to eat because they’ve been tested, according to the August 18 health department announcement.
The health department will monitor shellfish biotoxin levels and notify the public if they rise to unsafe levels. The Washington state Department of Health keeps an updated list of biotoxin and pollution closures at bit.ly/3caFDiH and on its biotoxin hotline at 800/562-5632.
PSP biotoxin can cause severe illness and death. Symptoms include numbness and tingling of lips and tongue within a few minutes to couple of hours of eating toxic shellfish, according to the health department. Tingling can progress to fingers and toes, loss of control of extremities and difficulty breathing.
North Whatcom County previously closed for shellfish harvesting June 9.