Fecal bacteria threatens shellfish harvesting in one local bay, other areas of the state

Wollochet Bay is one of 15 areas in the state where commercial shellfish harvesting is threatened due to the level of fecal bacteria, according to the Department of Health.

Shellfish in the areas are safe to eat for now, but harvesting could be restricted, the agency said in a news release April 25.

The other threatened areas are Dungeness Bay in Clallam County; Grays Harbor and the Pacific Coast in Grays Harbor County; Dyes Inlet, Liberty Bay and Miller Bay in Kitsap County; Annas Bay and Hood Canal 6 in Mason County; Bay Center in Pacific County; the Upright Channel in San Juan County; Port Susan and Skagit Bay South in Snohomish County; and Eld Inlet and Henderson Inlet in Thurston County.

Two areas in particular fell below the standard, out of the 115 commercial shellfish harvesting areas in the state, the release said.

“Based on data collected through 2023, portions of growing areas in Mason County’s Annas Bay and Clallam County’s Dungeness Bay did not meet the stringent public health water quality standards,” the release said. “The areas remain open, but the classification will be reevaluated.”

The Department of Health also said water quality has gotten better in five areas of the state, and that harvest restrictions there might be lifted.

Vaughn Bay and Rocky Bay in Pierce County are on that list.

The others are Portage Bay in Whatcom County; Port Susan in Snohomish County; and Hood Canal 3 in the Dosewallips area of Jefferson County.

“Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to keeping our water clean,” Scott Berbells, the agency’s Shellfish Growing Area Section manager, said in the release. “People can do their part by maintaining their septic systems, picking up pet waste, using pump out stations for boats and recreational vehicles, and managing animal waste from farms.”

Recreational shellfish harvesters can find a shellfish safey map at fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html .