Shellfish beds to get better protection

Washington's shellfish beds will be better protected next year after the Port of Seattle, the Washington Department of Ecology and the NorthWest CruiseShip Association update their agreement governing the 208 cruise sailings expected through state waters next year.

"The cruise ships will not be able to discharge within one-half mile of shellfish beds due to concerns about the contamination that a wastewater-treatment system that is not working properly would allow," said Amy Jankowiak, a compliance specialist with the Ecology Department. "As long as the treatment systems are working properly, according to the Department of Health, there is not a significant concern. But if there is an upset or system failure, there could be an impact."

Jankowiak referred to a study published in November by the state Health Department that found the advanced wastewater-treatment systems aboard many cruise ships "can effectively remove bacteria but may not eliminate viruses that cause illnesses."

Because cruise ships discharge their "surface waters at shallow depths, passing many shellfish-growing areas on their way in and out of Puget Sound," shellfish beds are at risk, the study found. "It is widely recognized that viruses are the major cause of food-borne illness from consumption of bivalve shellfish (oysters, clams, and mussels)."