Shellfish Advisories
Real time Information about paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in Southeast Alaska
PSTs cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)
Active PST Advisories in Southeast Alaska
See active advisories for communities throughout Southeast Alaska below.
Active advisories mean shellfish collected within the last 30 days in Southeast Alaska have results above the FDA regulatory limit of 80 ug of paralytic shellfish toxins per 100 g of shellfish tissue.
Active Advisories from Regularly Sampled Sites from Tribal Partners (2)
Additional Advisories
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab tests shellfish for PSTs from community members for free! If a community sample exceeds the regulatory limit, an additional advisory is listed for that area. These areas do not receive regular PST testing. Community shellfish samples with PSTs above the regulatory limit within the last 30 days are listed below.
Disclaimer
All Species includes all mussel and clam species (including geoduck), oysters, and any other invertebrate such as moon snails.
There is always risk when consuming wild shellfish. Toxins cannot be cooked, cleaned, or frozen out of shellfish. Toxins can vary between regions, beaches, and shellfish species. Clean crab thoroughly and discard the gut contents since crab viscera and guts (butter) can contain high levels of toxins. Commercially available shellfish have been tested for PSTs and are considered safe for consumption.
Before Harvesting Shellfish
- Data is site-specific and time-sensitive
- Know your shellfish species, and pay attention to species-specific advisories
- Conditions may change rapidly; check advisories frequently
PSP Information
PSP symptoms include tingling in the lips and fingertips, numbing of the arms and legs, nausea, difficulty breathing, and even death. Anyone with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care or call 9-1-1. To report PSP cases, contact the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Section of Epidemiology at (907) 269-8000, or (800) 478-0084 after hours.
