BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF SHELLFISH IN PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON 
A GROWING CONCERN 
John W. Armstrong 
Environmental Protection Agency-Region 10 
Seattle, Washington 
and 
Daniel P. Cheney 
Bay Center Mariculture 
Bay Center, Washington 
Overview 
During the 1940's, the late Seattle restaurateur Ivar Haglund 
popularized the "Ballad of the Early Settler," a tale of a pioneer who 
failed to find his fortune In the Alaska gold rush, and returned to the 
waters of Puget Sound In western Washington to live a happy life 
surrounded by "acres of clams." Indeed clams, oysters and other 
shellfish have long been favorite food for the Inhabitants of Puget Sound 
because they were free for the taking. Long before European explorers 
sailed Into the Inland waters of Puget Sound, coastal Indian tribes 
gathered and used Its abundant shellfish resources for food and trade. 
Early western Washington settlers had a maxim about the bounty to be 
found In the local tidelands-"When the tide Is out, the table Is set." 
Shellfish were widespread throughout the Sound, were accessible, and were 
considered public property. Anyone within reach of the Sound's beaches 
could dig a bucketful of clams or a bushel of oysters In short order on a 
low tide and provide fresh seafood at suppertime. 
Today, Puget Sound continues to support a rich and varied assemblage 
of economically Important marine shellfish, many of which, such as the 
Olympia oyster Qstrea lurlda , are native species. To be able to maintain 
those aquatic species, and to harvest them without undue 
restrictions,remain as key elements In the public's perception of the 
quality of life In our region. Therefore, maintenance of the quality of 
the Puget Sound environment Is closely linked to the social and cultural 
values which are attached to shellfish resources. 
Environmental quality In Puget Sound Is, In many respects, much 
better than In other estuaries In the United States. However, shellfish 
harvests from a number of the Sound's most productive waters are being 
banned, restricted, or threatened because of high levels of bacteria (and 
potentially pathogens), coming from sewage treatment plants. Improperly 
placed or failed septic tank systems, recreational boats and other 
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