Dash Point State Park Beach will be closed for shellfish harvesting through Jan. 9 due to a sewage spill.

An issue with a sewer main in Federal Way on Dec. 18 resulted in sewage releasing into Puget Sound.

This contamination has made it unsafe to harvest shellfish commercially or recreationally in that location, according to the Washington Department of Health.

The closure includes all species of shellfish, such as clams, geoduck, scallops, mussels, oysters, snails and other invertebrates. Crab and shrimp are not technically included in the emergency closure, but the Department of Health (DOH) still recommends not consuming or harvesting these from Dash Point at this time.

According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, “Horse clams are the most commonly harvested clam species on this beach. The site is not known have abundant numbers of any other clam species. Oysters are not common at this location.”

Shellfish that has been contaminated with sewage can cause unpleasant to dangerous illness, including vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, headache, and fever, according to the DOH.

The DOH recommends always checking on the safety of shellfish before harvesting. The status can be found by checking online.

Shellfish are particularly sensitive to toxins in the water because of the way they feed. According to the DOH website, “molluscan shellfish such as clams, oysters, and mussels feed by filtering large volumes of seawater. Along with food particles they can also absorb bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that are present.”

Filtering toxins out of the water can make shellfish very beneficial to the environment in which they live, but means they concentrate those toxins within themselves, making them dangerous to ingest. Oysters, for instance, are particularly notable for their ability to clean polluted water.