This week we did another round of toxin testing of wild blue mussels. Blue Mussels from Homer Harbor and Kasitsna Bay are both below the regulatory limit for saxitoxins. However, the Kasitsna Bay blue mussel saxitoxin level has come up from previous values this summer. This is a cautionary note as we could see toxin levels continue to rise in the coming weeks, or it may drop back down. We will be tracking this and send out updates as we have more information. KBNERR is not a regulatory agency and harvesting wild shellfish in Alaska is considered ‘dig at your own risk’. All commercially harvested shellfish are regulated by the DEC and considered safe for consumption.
For more information on this Phytoplankton Update and the Qualitative Analysis of Phytoplankton Data, click here.