Toxin warning halts clam harvesting in Oregon bay

Source: This report is based on an official public release from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. PULSE organizes and summarizes public government communications.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended that people avoid harvesting and consuming softshell and bay clams from Alsea Bay estuary after the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eckman Lake on August 28, the agency said.

The OHA advisory cited the presence of cyanobacteria and very high levels of saxitoxin, a paralytic shellfish toxin, in Eckman Lake. Since the lake drains directly into the Alsea Bay estuary, the toxin poses a risk to clams in the bay, according to ODFW.

Saxitoxin can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. The ODFW recommends avoiding clams from the estuary until the advisory is lifted.