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OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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Sport-Harvested Mussel Quarantine
Lifted along the California Coast

Health Advisory continues for Sonoma County

Date: October 31, 2017
Number: 17-078
Contact: Corey Egel | 916.440.7259 | CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov
 

SACRAMENTO ā€”California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith announced the statewide annual quarantine on mussels gathered by sport harvesters will be lifted at midnight on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, for all coastal counties except for Sonoma County.

Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been detected in mussels from Sonoma County, making them unsafe to consume. PSP is a form of nervous system poisoning. Concentrated levels of the toxins can develop in mussels and other bivalve shellfish when they feed on certain naturally occurring marine plankton that can increase during favorable environmental conditions.

PSP toxins remain at low or undetectable levels along all other portions of the California coast.

The annual quarantine on sport-harvested mussels, which typically runs May 1 through October 31, is intended to protect the public from shellfish poisoning caused by marine biotoxins. There have been no reports of shellfish-related poisonings in California during this quarantine period.

CDPH's shellfish sampling and testing programs issue warnings or quarantines when needed. Local health departments, various state, federal and tribal agencies, community groups and others participate in the monitoring program. Residents and community groups interested in volunteering to assist with the testing program should email RedTide@cdph.ca.gov or call (800) 553-4133.

Updated information about current conditions is available by calling the Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. More information can be found on the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Web page or the CDPH Annual Mussel Quarantine - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Web page.

Due to the persistent presence of domoic acid in razor clams from beaches in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) closure of the razor clam fishery remains in effect there. More information about the razor clam fishery closure can be found on the CDFW Ocean Health Advisories Web page.

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