shellfish closure

[Bait O' Eggs]

Article taken from the 8/2/00 Headlight Hearald (weekly Tillamook newspaper).

Paralytic shellfish poisoning closes shellfish harvesting on beaches

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has closed recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting on northern and southern ocean beaches due to elevated levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
The northern closure extends from the south end of Cannon Beach at Tolovana Park to the south end of Lincoln City beaches on the north side of the Siletz River.
Nehalem Bay is included in this closure from the mouth to the boat ramp at Nehalem Bay State Park. Tillamook Bay is closed from the mouth to the Garibaldi boat basin and includes Crab Harbor. No mussel or clam harvesting is allowed from the beaches, spits, rocks, or jetties at the mouths of rivers and bays along the Oregon coast from Tolovana Park to the south end of Lincoln City beaches and from Bandon to the California border.
An earlier PSP closure preventing shellfish harvesting was initiated last Friday, July 21 from Bandon to the California border due to elevated levels of PSP. Harvesting of scallops to be eaten whole is also prohibited.
Laboratory tests for mussel samples collected from the north coast this week show toxin levels above the alert level. Mussels are the “sentinel” organism for other shellfish on the beach. Laboratory tests for shellfish collected from sites between Bandon and north Lincoln County were at safe levels. Bays and beaches north of Bandon and south of Lincoln City remain open for recreational and commercial harvesting. Shellfish are sampled weekly during PSP events.
Eating shellfish contaminated with PSP toxins can cause minor to severe illness, or even death. The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking or adding baking soda, or any other method. Crab are not affected by PSP toxin. Commercial oysters from Tillamook and Netarts Bays are not affected by this closure.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture will continue monitoring and testing shellfish for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid at as many as 23 sites. Reopening of a closed area requires two sets of samples below the toxin alert level. For more information, call ODA’s shellfish information line at (503) 986-4728 or Ron McKay at (503) 986-4720.