BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Even as most shellfish beds in Puget Sound are seeing reductions in fecal pollution, the problems seem to continue for Samish Bay.

Last Sunday's closure of recreational shellfish harvesting was the latest of eight closures since March 1 due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in Samish Bay.

Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director Gerry O'Keefe says this is a problem that we can solve.



Heavy spring rains and the large number of farms in the Samish Basin are contributing to the fecal pollution levels.

O'Keefe says efforts to bring more farms into compliance with the clean water act are showing progress.

He says the Puget Sound Partnership will sit down with state and local agencies in July to re-examine solutions.

Meanwhile, the State Department of Health says fecal pollution in Puget Sound shellfish has steadily declined since 2003.

The overall improvement is credited to better management of sewage systems and stormwater runoff around more shellfish growing areas.