Recreational shellfish harvesting closed in Hood Canal due to deadly biotoxin levels

Recreational shellfish harvesting closed in Hood Canal due to deadly biotoxin levels

Shellfish harvesting in Hood Canal is closed due to dangerous biotoxin levels, the Washington State Department of Health warns.

Puget Sound’s low tides are back, but some beaches are off-limits

Paralytic shellfish poison levels have warranted an "unprecedented" closure of beaches along Hood Canal, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Paralytic shellfish poison detected at dangerous levels in Hood Canal

For immediate release: June 12, 2026 (26-048) Contact: DOH Communications All recreational shellfish harvest in Hood Canal is closed OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is warning residents and visitors not to harvest or consume recreational shellfish from Hood Canal after laboratory testing detected lethal levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) in shellfish samples collected near Union, as well as high levels in surrou…

Paralytic Shellfish Poison Detected at Dangerous Levels in Hood Canal

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is warning residents and visitors not to harvest or consume recreational shellfish from Hood Canal after laboratory testing detected lethal levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) in shellfish samples collected near Union, as well as high levels in surrounding areas.  As a result, all recreational shellfish harvesting is closed in Hood Canal from Foulweather Bluff and...

Dangerous Shellfish Toxin Forces Closure of Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet Beaches

OLYMPIA — State wildlife officials have closed recreational shellfish harvesting on public beaches in Hood Canal and parts of Admiralty Inlet after tests detected potentially lethal levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the emergency closure Thursday, affecting all clam, mussel, oyster, scallop and other mollusk harvest on public beaches in Hood Canal and in southern Admiralty I…