blue mussels

The Knik Tribe in South Central Alaska has been running a Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning monitoring program for nearly two decades to prevent deadly tragedies. However, the project was placed on “pause” in April as the federal government investigates its “legitimacy” in order to continue funding.

While blue mussels are a traditional source of subsistence food in Unalaska, in recent years, reduced numbers and concerns about paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, have limited the amount locals can safely harvest.