Washington state health officials are sounding the alarm over shellfish in Hood Canal. They say potentially deadly levels of a naturally occurring marine toxin have been detected in the shellfish there, just as many people head to the water for the Fourth of July weekend.
The response was sweeping. All recreational shellfish harvesting has been banned from Port Ludlow all the way south, and the closure will remain in place until further notice.
Part of what makes the toxin so dangerous is that it is impossible to detect by the senses. Officials warn that you cannot smell it, taste it, or cook it out, meaning contaminated shellfish remain hazardous no matter how they are prepared.
The health effects can come on quickly. Symptoms can develop within minutes of eating tainted shellfish, and in severe cases the poisoning can cause difficulty breathing, paralysis, and even death.
The timing has heightened the concern. With the holiday weekend drawing crowds to the Washington coast, officials are urging people to take the warning seriously and avoid gathering shellfish in the closed area.
Not every area is off-limits. Even as Hood Canal stays closed, other marine areas are opening for the summer crabbing season, including Port Angeles, Discovery Bay, and Port Susan in Snohomish County, with marine areas around Tacoma, Seattle, and Bremerton set to open on Sunday.
Officials say the safest approach is to check before you go. Closures can shift from one area to the next, and the state maintains a map showing where shellfish harvesting is currently safe and where it is not.