The State Department of Environmental Conservation ordered the closure of a commercial shellfish harvester’s operations on the east side of Kachemak Bay Friday. George Scanlan, Shellfish Permit Coordinator with DEC, says routine tests revealed levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin three times higher than the acceptable threshold.
“When we got those results we informed the operators over there that the area will be closed to further harvesting until we follow through and test the products to see if the toxin may subside.”
The regulatory limit is 80 micrograms of toxin per 100 grams of shellfish. The closure is limited to just one oyster farm in Halibut Cove. Shellfish harvested by farms in Jakalof Bay, Peterson Bay, and Bear Cove did not have the same elevated levels of toxin. Scanlan says the amount of toxin in the Halibut Cove shellfish is higher than anything he’s ever seen in his ten years with DEC.
“Apparently this year has been a pretty bad year for the Pacific West Coast in general. Having high levels of these harmful algal blooms seen in California and even moving up to Washington and the Canadian waters next to us.”
Harmful algal blooms are typically the source of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin. The toxins are absorbed into the shellfishes’ systems when they feed on the harmful algae. Scanlan says DEC will continue testing for toxins, to make sure contaminated shellfish don’t make it into the market but eventually he expects the toxin levels to drop to normal.
“These algae tend to die off and move away from the area and we should be able to have clean results and open this particular area of Halibut Cove.”
Scanlan worries more about recreationally harvested shellfish. Shellfish harvested in the wild are not tested by DEC so chances are much greater they will have high toxin levels. Scanlan says the risk is too great and he advises the public not to eat wild shellfish at all.
Symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning may appear in less than an hour after ingestion. Initial symptoms are a tingling or numbness in the lips and tongue, often followed by tingling and numbness in the fingertips and toes. These symptoms may progress to loss of muscle coordination, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, and incoherence. The only treatment for severe cases is the use of a mechanical respirator and oxygen.
