Clam diggers in Washington County struggled to survive the summer months after being notified in July that Cobscook Bay was closed to the harvesting of clams, whelks and carnivorous snails. Other businesses in the area were reportedly affected by the loss of income that is usually generated by clam digging.
Just as some Washington County flats were reopening around Labor Day, another section of the Maine coast extending from the New Hampshire border to Biddeford Pool was closed to the harvesting of clams, mussels and carnivorous snails because of red tide toxin detected in that area.
Scientist Jay McGowan, who works with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), said in September that 2004 has been one of the worst years on record for red tide in Maine.
“Red tide showed up five to six weeks earlier than usual this year, the closings were longer, and we’ve had larger areas of acreage closed than we usually do,” said McGowan. “The closings lasted longer because the levels of toxin stayed high longer. It takes longer for the clams to rid themselves of the toxin when the levels of toxin are higher.”
According to McGowan, virtually the entire coast of Maine has felt the effects of red tide to some degree this year. He added that it’s important for the public to understand that while the decision to close coastal areas because of red tide may create economic hardship, the restrictions are for everyone’s protection. He advised that the toxins, which are secreted from the phytoplankton known as “red tide,” can cause illness, paralysis and even death.
According to McGowan, no red tide-related deaths have been officially recorded in Maine but there have been some in nearby Grand Manan.
DMR Lieutenant Larry Talbot explained that restrictions are imposed not just for the protection of Maine residents but also for the safety of people in other states where the shellfish may be purchased. He added that if someone from another state became ill or died after eating contaminated shellfish from Maine, it could adversely affect this state’s entire shellfish industry.
Besides those who harvest shellfish for a living, recreational diggers have a stake in shellfish health as well.
McGowan said he had spoken with a man from southern Maine earlier this year who had been visiting in another part of the state and became very ill after consuming clams he had harvested himself.
“The individual said that [he] experienced severe vomiting and [his] muscles and chest hurt for days from the vomiting,” stated McGowan. “The diagnosis wasn’t confirmed because the man didn’t go to a doctor, but we suspect that the clams were contaminated with red tide because they were harvested from an area in which very high levels of the toxin had been detected.”
McGowan added that anyone who becomes ill after eating shellfish should contact a physician. He said that some of the symptoms of red tide poisoning may include nausea, vomiting, numbness of the mouth, numbness of the tongue, or numbness of the palate, slurred speech, paralysis and/or death. Everyone involved in the recreational harvesting of shellfish should check with town officials to find out which areas are closed to harvesting. Other information may be obtained from the DMR’s red tide hotline by calling (800) 232-4733.