PSP FAQ

The Hood Canal is having its second ever PSP outbreak. 

For up to date info on shellfish beach closures, both recreational and commercial, visit the Washington State Department of Health's website. 

Here’s some backstory!

• PSP (aka paralytic shellfish poisoning) is a potentially deadly biotoxin produced by a specific type of algae.
• Like all harmful algae blooms (HABs), it cannot be cooked out of the shellfish.
• It’s naturally occurring and can happen in cold or warm water.
• It’s not red, although this is usually what folks mean when they say “red tide.”
• It is very site specific. This bloom is in Hood Canal. Oysters from other growing sites aren’t impacted. 
  
• Find more info about PSP here. 
• Regulators test and monitor for safety.
• Shellfish farmers work very closely with the Department of Health (DOH) to keep our product safe from biotoxins.
• PSP is knowable - you can test for it. 
• We only harvest or buy shellfish from open and approved growing areas. 
• Symptoms of PSP occur quickly and include tingling and numbness. If you experience these symptoms after eating shellfish, seek immediate medical attention.

Bottom Line: You are not going to get sick from a biotoxin if you eat shellfish grown and harvested from a reputable supplier.

After a certain amount of time - hard to say how long - the bloom will clear and the shellfish will filter out the toxins, and be safe to eat again.

During the bloom, we are sourcing oysters and clams from open beaches in Puget Sound and the northern Olympic Peninsula. In some cases these are beaches that we farm, and we're also buying shellfish from our colleagues in the industry.