Shellfish harvesting is closed for the east shoreline of Kitsap County, including bays, inlets and islands, due to tests showing high levels of paralytic shellfish poison, the Kitsap Public Health District announced July 15.

The shoreline extends from Foulweather Bluff in Hansville to Point Southworth in South Kitsap. All recreational shellfish harvesting is prohibited for all species of clams, oysters, and mussels. Shrimp and crab are not included in this closure, but crabs should be cleaned prior to cooking, and the “crab butter” should be discarded, per KPHD.

Shellfish harvesting is closed when PSP toxin levels meet or exceed 80 micrograms per 100 grams of tissue. For this advisory, samples taken at multiple sites within the closure area on July 14 exceeded the closure limit. Warning signs will be posted as soon as possible at public beaches alerting people not to collect shellfish from the closure areas.

Early symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes of eating toxic shellfish or may take an hour or two to develop. Symptoms may progress to tingling of fingers and toes and then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by difficulty in breathing. Some people feel nauseous or experience a sense of floating. If a person consumes enough toxins, muscles of the chest and abdomen become paralyzed, including muscles used for breathing, and the victim can suffocate. Death from PSP has occurred in less than 30 minutes, KPHD says.