PORT ANGELES — Beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cape Flattery east to the Lyre River have been reopened for recreational shellfish harvesting.
The change by the state Department of Health was announced by the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday.
Beaches remain closed to shellfish harvesting from the Lyre River to Discovery Bay.
In Jefferson County, beaches closed to harvesting of all species of shellfish include those on Discovery Bay.
Kilisut Harbor, including Mystery Bay and Port Ludlow including Mats Mats Bay, is open to all species except butter clams and varnish clams.
Ocean beaches are under an extended seasonal closure.
Closures include clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish. Crab meat is not known to contain the marine biotoxins that lead to shellfish poisoning, but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, the crab should be cleaned thoroughly with the guts discarded.
Shellfish harvested commercially are tested for toxins prior to distribution and are safe to eat, according to the Department of Health.
Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
For more information about the closures, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-ShellfishToxin.
