Biotoxin affects shellfish harvesting in Oregon, Washington

 The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Agriculture recently announced the closure of shellfish harvesting throughout the entire Oregon coast.
 
In Washington, officials have also closed shellfish harvesting throughout the state’s Pacific Coast.
 
Agencies are checking for a marine biotoxin which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. The naturally occurring biotoxin affects the nervous system. People with paralytic shellfish poisoning can experience tingling of the lips and tongue, nausea and difficulty breathing.
 
The illness has been linked to the sickening of at least 20 people in Oregon last month.  The Oregon Health Authority is also asking people who recently harvested or ate any shellfish from the Oregon Coast to complete a survey. Officials are investigating illnesses linked to contaminated shellfish.
 
We learn more about biotoxins and how climate change might be affecting algae that produce them from Vera Trainer, the marine program manager of the University of Washington’s Olympic Natural Resources Center.