General Information

Event name: US-06-019
Country: UNITED STATES
Nature of the harmful event:
Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Shellfish
Toxicity detected: Yes
Associated syndrome: PSP
Unexplained toxicity: No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector): Blue Mussels, Geoduck Clams, Maninla Clams, Pacific Oysters
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme: Yes (WA Dept. of Health, office of Shellfish and Water Protection, Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program)
Event occurred before in this location: Yes (The Strait of Juan De Fuca and accompanying inlets have had previous PSP closures.)
Individuals to contact: COX, Frank

Location & Date

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Location: Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information: Strait of Juan De Fuca and Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, Pacific Northwest
HAB Area code(s): US-24
Additional location information: Recreational PSP closures: In Clallam Co.: West Strait of Juan de Fuca closed on 6/6/06, Sequim Bay closed on 8/18/06. In Jefferson Co.: Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay closed on 6/13/06, Oak Bay closed on 8/9/06, Mystery Bay closed on 8/4/06, Discovery Bay closed on 8/12/06, Kilisut Harbor closed on 8/16/06. Port Townsend closed on 8/16/06. In Kitsap Co.: Port Gamble closed on 8/8/06, North East Hood Canal, from Hood Canal Bridge north to tip of Katsap Peninsula closed on 8/24/06. Commercial PSP closures: Protection Island Geoduck Tract closed on (1) 8/21/06 and (2) 12/28/06, opened on 12/04/06 and 1/8/07 Siebert Creek Geoduck Tract closed 6/12/06, opened on 1/8/07, and Freshwater Creek Geoduck Tract closed on 6/6/06 and 11/6/06 and opened on 11/1/06 and 2/15/07. General "All Species" commercial closures included Discovery Bay on 6/23/06, Port Townsend on 8/18/06, Sequim bay on 8/22/06, North Kilisut Harbor on 8/22/06, Port Gamble on 8/23/06, Mystery Bay and all Kilisut Harbor on 9/5/06 and Hood Canal #1 on 9/6/06. Discovery bay opened on 12/7/06, Port Townsend opened on 9/21/06, Sequim Bay opened on 10/6/06, N. Kilisut Harbor opened on 9/12/06, port Gamble opened on 12/13/06, Mystery Bay and Kilisut harbor opened on 9/15/06 and Hood Canal #1 opened on 9/21/06.
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information: See text above.

Microalgae

Causative organism known: Yes
Causative Species/Genus: Alexandrium catenella ( cells/L)
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known: µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather: Turbidity (NTU): Wind direction:
Stratified water: Oxygen content (nL/L): Wind velocity:
Temperature (°C): Oxygen saturation %: Current Direction:
Sechhi disk (m): Salinity: Current Velocity: 0
Nutrient information:
Temperature Range During Event: Max: °C, Min: °C
Salinity Range During Event:
Bloom location in the water column:
Growth:
Growth Comments
Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin Toxin type Toxin details Max. concentration Assay type
Blue Mussels (Most Toxic) Saxitoxins 16,951 Bioassay-Mouse
Geoduck Clams, Manila Clams, Pacific Oysters Saxitoxins Bioassay-Mouse
Kit used: No Type of kit used:
Additional information: Max. concentration was 16,951 micrograms/100 grams shellfish tissue on 8/28/06 in Blue Mussel at Port Ludlow, Jefferson County
Economic losses: Recreational and commercial shellfish harvest seasons were interrupted, causing an economic loss to the communities along the Strait of Juan De Fuca and North Hood Canal.
Management decision: DOH closed shellfish harvesting at impacted areas to protect public health.
Additional harmful effect information:
IOC/UNESCO ISSHA
IOC/UNESCO ICES PICES