BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Bellingham Bay is closed for recreational shellfish harvesting until further notice.

Whatcom County Health and Community Services announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that state health officials have detected unsafe levels of biotoxins in the bay.

That prompted the closure, which includes Chuckanut Bay and all of Larrabee State Park. It applies to all species of molluscan shellfish on Bellingham Bay beaches, including clams, mussels, oysters and scallops.

WCHCS warns that cooking and freezing does not get rid of paralytic shellfish poisoning or other naturally occurring biotoxins.

Other Whatcom County beaches in Birch Bay and parts of Semiahmoo are still open.

Lummi Bay – which is under tribal jurisdiction and closed to all non-tribal visitors – is also open, while Portage Bay remains closed.

Residents are encouraged to check the Washington Department of Health’s shellfish safety map before harvesting, as biotoxin levels can change quickly.