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----- Know Before You Dig! -----
IMPORTANT:
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(This information is only updated when conditions change) In Island County, all recreational beaches in Penn Cove are closed to all species of shellfish until further notice due to a fuel spill from a sunken vessel. |
Other Notes:
The public beaches listed in the table (below) are CLOSED to the recreational or sport harvest of the shellfish species listed because of danger from marine biotoxins.
Commercial shellfish harvesting may, or may not, be restricted in those areas, based on selected testing of shellfish lots.The Ocean beaches are closed to the recreational or sport harvest of all species of molluscan shellfish from April 1 to October 31 each year. The exception to this is razor clams on designated open beaches.
It is important to know the difference between butter clams, varnish clams and other species of clams. Butter clams and varnish clams have the ability to retain toxin for a very long time - up to a year or more. Areas may be closed for the sport harvest of butter clams and or varnish clams when all other species are safe and open. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has pictures and descriptions of butter and other types of clams posted on their web site at http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/beachreg/1clam.htm.
All areas are closed for the recreational or sport harvest of scallops.
The closures listed on this page do not apply to crab and shrimp.
In the table, "All species" means clams (including geoduck), oysters, mussels, and other invertebrates such as the moon snail.
This text bulletin represents only the Marine Biotoxin health status of public beaches for the recreational or sport harvest of shellfish. For additional information about other types of harvest closures (such as from pollution, or rain events), check the "clickable maps".
Please check the WDFW Web site for seasons and limits.
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County |
These public beach areas are closed to recreational shellfish harvest because of marine biotoxin only. |
Type of shellfish affected by marine biotoxin: |
| Clallam | Seasonal closure of ocean beaches. | All Species |
| The Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit westward to Cape Flattery. | No Closures | |
| Discovery Bay and Sequim Bay. | Butter Clams Only | |
| Grays Harbor | Seasonal closure of ocean beaches. | All Species |
| Island | Penn Cove. | All Species |
| Jefferson | Seasonal closure of ocean beaches. | All Species |
| Discovery Bay and Kilisut Harbor including Mystery Bay. | Butter Clams Only | |
| King | Three Tree Point south to the Pierce County line. | Butter Clams Only |
| Kitsap | Point Jefferson south to Blake Island including all of Bainbridge Island. | Butter Clams Only |
| Mason | No Closures. | No Closures |
| Pacific | Seasonal closure of ocean beaches. | All Species |
| Pierce | No Closures | No Closures |
| San Juan | All of the county. | Varnish Clams Only |
| Skagit | Sinclair and Cypress Islands. | All Species |
| Snohomish | No Closures. | No Closures |
| Thurston | No Closures. | No Closures |
| Whatcom | Sandy Point south to Skagit County line | Butter and Varnish Clams Only |
| Sandy Point north to Canadian border | All Species |
Links
to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply
endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.
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Shellfish Program |
