Harvesting our natural resources is still as important today as it was hundreds of years ago. This is why it’s vital we honor this traditional way of life while keeping our resources fully intact. Knowing how to safely harvest shellfish, devils club, berries, cedar bark, and more will protect both you and the resource itself.
In partnership with the Southeast Alaska Tribal Toxins Program, Ketchikan Indian Community is testing two harvesting sites to allow tribal members to make informed decisions on whether or not to harvest shellfish. The two sites are Seaport Beach and the beach near Whipple Creek. Tests such as microscope analysis of phytoplankton, testing of shellfish tissue, and filtering of water for phytoplankton contents are used to determine the safety of these sites.
Please visit seator.org/data to see what current toxin levels are in the Ketchikan area in regards to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.