Effective immediately, the Washington State Department of Health updated recreational harvest closures of the following beach for the listed species of shellfish.

The following beaches in Clallam County are listed with the closure in effect.

Seasonal closure of ocean beaches/All Species

Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cape Flattery east to Dungeness Spit/Butter and Varnish clams

Discovery Bay/Butter and Varnish clams

Sequim Bay/All Species

Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit east to the Jefferson County line/Varnish Clams only

All species means clams (including geoduck), oyster, mussels and other invertebrates such as the moon snail. All areas are closed for the sportharvest of scallops. These closures do not apply to shrimp. Crabmeat is not known to contain the biotoxins, 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 or varnish clams and other species of clams. Butter clams and varnish 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 and varnish clams when all other species are safe and open.

For more information about this closure, call the Marine Biotoxin Hotline at 1.800.562.5632, or visit

the Department of Health’s Shellfish Safety website

http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Shellfish.aspx.

For additional information or to volunteer with the shellfish safety program call Jessica Pankey with the Clallam County Environmental Health Food Safety Program at 360.417.2418.

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 on their website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/. Their emergency regulation hotline is 1.866.880.5431.