Shellfish logo used by permission, courtesy of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA).

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"I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty, which will protect the beauty of our natural environment, which will preserve the great old American houses and squares and parks of our national past and which will build handsome and balanced cities for our future."

- John F Kennedy, 35th US President

Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District

The Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District was formed by the Whatcom County Council in 1998 after the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) prohibited harvesting of shellfish in portions of Portage Bay due to deteriorating water quality. The DOH based their decision for the closures on water quality monitoring data and other aspects of the sanitary survey for Portage Bay. In 1999, a total of 150 acres in Portage Bay had been downgraded to a restricted status for shellfish harvesting. To date, that entire area still remains closed to the harvesting of shellfish.

Shellfish growing areas in the United States are classified based on national water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria. Water quality must meet certain standards in order for people to be able to harvest shellfish from an area. The estimated 90th percentile, which is a statistical calculation, is one of the standards that need to be met. Learn more about classification types and shellfish growing area classification.

In October 2003, the Washington Department of Health approved the reopening of 625 acres in Portage Bay to shellfish harvesting. Only 110 acres remain closed to harvesting.

There are nine sites in Portage Bay that the State Department of Health (DOH) uses to monitor water quality and to classify the harvesting area. Visit Data/Maps to get more details on what the current results are and what they mean.

The Portage Bay Shellfish Advisory Committee meets approximately every two months. Meetings are held in the first-floor conference room at the Civic Center Building, 322 N. Commercial St., Bellingham, WA (by the Bellingham Public Library), unless otherwise noted. The public is encouraged to attend. Summaries of previous meetings can be found on the Meetings/Calendar page.