Shellfish - Kitsap Public Health District

ENVIRONMENT
DO YOU DIG SHELLFISH?
Our Kitsap region is home to numerous public beaches approved for shellfish harvesting.
We monitor these areas, posting advisories when pollution or shellfish poisoning pose a
threat. The following information will help keep you and your family safe when harvesting
and preparing shellfish.
BEFORE YOU GO
• Call to confirm closures:
Kitsap County: 800-223-9355; or
WA State: 800-562-5632.
• Buy a shellfish/seaweed license.
• Check for harvest limits and seasons.
• Only harvest from approved areas.
• Use private beaches only with the owner’s permission.
• Understand that even an approved beach may be closed by the state regulations.
• Avoid harvesting near pollution sources (storm water pipes, sewage outfalls, marinas).
KITSAP PUBLIC
HEALTH DISTRICT
TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT?
Shellfish are generally safe to eat, but they can cause illness due to toxins and bacteria. It’s
important to know:
• You increase your risk of illness when eating raw shellfish.
• Cooking will kill bacteria and viruses but will not eliminate toxic chemicals or destroy
paralytic shellfish poisoning.
345 6th Street
Suite 300
Bremerton, WA
98337
360-337-5235
360-337-5291 (fax)

PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS IN KITSAP COUNTY
Site Location Site Location Site Location
1 Laughlin Cove Co Park (Boat Only) 25 Fay Bainbridge State Park 49 Illahee State Park
2 DNR 40 (Boat Only) 26 Skiff Point Road End, City of BI 50 Bachman Park, Bremerton Parks
3 Guillemot Cove County Park 27 Skiff Point Sewer Outfall 51 Lent Landing, Bremerton Parks
4 Stavis Beach (Boat Only) 28 Yaquina Ave Road End 52 Lions Field, Bremerton Parks
5 Scenic Beach State Park 29 Wing Point Sewer Outfall 53 Tracyton Boat Ramp
6 Nick’s Lagoon County Park 30 Waterfront Park, City of BI 54 Anna Smith County Park
7 Anderson Landing County Park 31 Pritchard Park, BI Parks 55 Silverdale Shoal (Boat Only)
8 Kitsap Memorial State Park 32 Rockaway Beach Park, BI Parks 56 Old Mill Site County Park
9 Salisbury Pt. County Park 33 Blakely Harbor Park, BI Parks 57 Silverdale Waterfront Co Park
10 Port Gamble Sewer Outfall 34 Fort Ward Sewer Outfall 58 NAD Park, Bremerton Parks
11 Foulweather Bluff (Boat Only) 35 Fort Ward State Park 59 Evergreen Park, Bremerton Parks
12 Point No Point Lighthouse 36 Lytle Road End 60 Bremerton Sewer Outfall
13 Point No Point Co Park (DNR 68) 37 Point White Pier, BI Parks 61 Sinclair Preserve County Park
14 Eglon Boat Ramp 38 Fairy Dell Park, BI Parks 62 Ross Point
15 Kingston Beach, North of Ferry 39 Dock Street Road End 63 Annapolis/Retsil Beach
16 Kingston Sewer Outfall 40 Seabold Beach (Boat Only) 64 Karcher Creek Sewer Outfall
17 Arness County Park 41 South Agate Passage 65 Manchester State Park
18 West Point Jefferson (Boat Only) 42 Point Bolin (Boat Only) 66 Manchester Sewer Outfall
19 East Indianola (Boat Only) 43 West Point Bolin (Boat Only) 67 Pomeroy Park, Manchester
20 Suquamish Pier 44 Oyster Plant Park 68 Blake Island State Park
21 Suquamish Sewer Outfall 45 American Legion Park 69 Harper County Park
22 Old Man House State Park 46 Keyport County Park 70 Southworth
23 Reitan Road Bridge Trail 47 Central Kitsap Sewer Outfall 71 Anderson Pt County Park
24 Spargur Loop Park, BI Parks 48 Brownsville, North of Marina 72 Ollala Boat Ramp, County Park
A
1
A
2
3
A
4
5
6
SEABECK
7
56
57
55
A
58
54
8
POULSBO
45
SILVERDALE
53
BREMERTON
61
60
62
44
46
A
47
48
11
9 10
PORT
GAMBLE
41
43
42
A
A
A
49
38
20
21
22
23
40
39
12
13
24
14
19
25
KINGSTON
17
15
18
A A
26
27
28
BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND
30
37
52
51
50
65
59
67
63 64
PORT ORCHARD
36
66
33
35
34
69
31
32
70
68
29
16
SHELLFISH CLASSIFICATIONS
71
72
VASHON
ISLAND
Rev. 04-11
BEACH STATUS
APPROVED
ADVISORY
CLOSED
UNCLASSIFIED
A BOAT ONLY
SEWER OUTFALL
WATERBODY
GREEN: Approved for shellfish harvesting
YELLOW: Check for health advisory update
Kitsap 800-223-9355 or
WA State 800-562-5637
RED: Closed for shellfish harvesting

STORING & PREPARING SHELLFISH
Careful storage and cooking can greatly reduce your risk:
• Refrigerate or ice shellfish quickly after harvesting.
• Cook only live shellfish. (Dead ones have open shells and don’t respond when touched; discard these.)
• Cook shellfish meat thoroughly:
LIVE CLAMS, MUSSELS, OYSTERS. Boil for at least three to five minutes or steam in a preheated steamer for at least
four to nine minutes after the shell has opened. They can also be baked at 450° F for at least 10 minutes.
SHUCKED OYSTERS. Cook for at least three minutes in one of the following ways:
Boiled or simmered;
Fried in 375° F oil;
Broiled three inches from the heat.
SHRIMP. Cook for at least eight minutes once the water has returned to a full boil.
CRAB. Cook for at least 15 minutes once the water has returned to a full boil.
REPORT ILLNESS
Check with your doctor first if you become ill after eating shellfish. Then report your illness to us, so we can warn
others: 360-337-5235.
RED TIDE ALERT
Paralytic shellfish poisoning—also known as red tide—is caused when toxins from a naturally occurring plankton are
eaten by shellfish and become concentrated. It can accumulate in clams, mussels, scallops, and oysters (and sometimes
crab and moon snails).
Eating shellfish with large amounts of toxin can cause serious illness or death. Unfortunately, toxic shellfish do not look
or taste differently than nontoxic ones.
Even though it’s called red tide, the color of the water is not an indication of whether the shellfish in the area are safe to
eat. Before harvesting, it’s always best to call ahead for the latest information:
Kitsap County: 800-223-9355
WA State: 800-562-5632
SYMPTOMS? GET MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY!
These usually occur within one hour after eating toxic shellfish and may include:
• Tingling or numbness of the lips or tongue;
• Nausea or vomiting;
• Muscle weakness;
• Difficulty breathing.
QUESTIONS?
Kitsap Public Health District: 360-337-5235
WA State Department of Health: 360-236-3330
kitsappublichealth.org