Helen Harrand
That's unusual that the commercial guys got hit. Truly. DNR/WDFW is usually pretty quick about picking up things like Vibrio. They are usually pretty quick about posting warnings when something like this occurs. But as I said, while commercial oysters won't be harvested from those areas that are closed, way to many recreational harvesters disregard warnings - even when they are posted in 12 different languages!
I rarely eat oysters from those areas that were mentioned, unless they are cooked, which eliminates the problems of Vibrio. They are generally larger varities that are just too difficult for me to manage on the half shell. For raw oysters, I prefer the smaller Olympia oyster which are not grown in those areas. Half a dozen Olympias, when shucked, will fit in a shot glbutt.
I'm actually suprised that Oakland Bay, the local clam and oyster beach, did not make it onto the list. It is still a safe area. that is an area just down the road from where my old house is that is usually one of the first to get closed.
The commercial oyster companies tell you where they harvest each specific oyster from because they actually have different tastes. II detest Willapa Bay oysters, IMHO, they taste like mud.Given the problems Hood Canal has had in the past 4 years with lowered dissolved oxygen levels resulting in fish kills and other buttorted problems, I don't eat anything from that area.
will tell you what areas are closed to harvest of oysters, clams, etc. Since growers like to label their oysters based on the bed location, it is easy to find out what's available out there and where you can or can't go recreational oystering/clamming. The clickabale map, for those of you into harvesting, tells you what's usually available at each beach.
SD
PS Helen, We never got to leave UAH and Marshall Space Flight Center when I was in Huntsville. We had clbuttes everyday including the weekend, usually till about 7 or 8 at night.
