The Washington Department of Health has extended its closure of recreational shellfish harvesting to all of the shores of Vashon-Maury Island.

Prior to August, all of the beaches on the eastern shores of the island and in Quartermaster Harbor were closed due to unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish poison — a neurotoxin that can sicken or even kill those who eat contaminated shellfish. On August 8, the state expanded that closure to the island’s west side, too, following unsafe poison levels recently collected from Colvos Passage. That means there is currently no safe beach from which to recreationally harvest shellfish on the island.

For updates on the closure, visit fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html, or call the DOH biotoxin hotline at 1-800-562-5632.

The closure includes all species of shellfish including clams, geoduck, scallops, mussels, oysters, snails and other invertebrates, but does not include crab or shrimp, according to the DOH. Crabmeat is not known to contain the PSP toxin, but their guts and the fat in the back of their shell can and thus should be cleaned and discarded.

Symptoms of PSP poisoning include numbness or tingling or the face, arms and legs; headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of muscle coordination; or in extreme cases, muscle paralysis and respiratory failure. For mild symptoms, contact the Washington Poison Center (800-222-1222) or Public Health (206-296-4774). If symptoms are severe, call 911 or have someone take you to an emergency room immediately.

The closure refers only to recreational shellfishing; commercial shellfish sites are monitored separately, according to the DOH, and can be viewed at fortress.wa.gov/doh/oswpviewer/index.html.