Extending the enjoyment of your labors becomes important when considering time and financial resources necessary to bring home a A catch. When harvesting shellfish, close attention needs to be paid to beach closures. A number of toxins, bacteria and viruses are associated with shellfish, which when consumed, can cause serious illness, permanent memory loss, and occasionally death. Harvest all seafood from designated safe waters and beaches. In Washington a toll-free hotline provides information on locations closed due to pollution.
Time is of an essence to assure seafood quality.
Once finfish or shellfish leave the marine environment deterioration is rapid. Keep temperatures surrounding fish and shellfish as close to 32 E F as possible. Many long treasured recipes and techniques in use today may not meet the requirements for a safe seafood product. This handout provides procedures to assure a safe and quality product. Basic directions and processing details are provided in each bulletin.