LAPUSH (Oct. 25, 2001) The Quileute Tribe is at the forefront of developing technology that can more quickly test shellfish for toxins that can sicken and kill people.
Shellfish are culturally and economically important to the Tribe and tribal members regularly consume shellfish as part of their diet. However tribal members and others are being warned more and more often not to harvest clams and crab because high toxin levels can cause serious illness or even death.
In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Tribe has been looking at the relationship between phytoplankton blooms, toxins in seawater and the accumulation of toxins in shellfish. The Tribe is beginning field trials of real time