CDPH Removes Previous Warning for Commercially Harvested Rock Crab
from Portions of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties
April 29, 2025
SN25-007
What You Need to Know: CDPH has lifted a previous warning that advised against consuming rock crab commercially harvested from portions of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Levels of domoic acid in rock crab from these areas have declined to low or undetectable levels. Warnings for rock crab commercially harvested from other areas remain in effect.
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the shellfish safety notification that warned against consuming commercially harvested rock crab from state waters located at:
Recent laboratory analyses show that domoic acid levels in the internal organs of rock crab harvested from California waters stated above have declined to low or undetectable levels. CDPH has lifted its
, where the public was warned to not consume any commercially harvested whole Rock crab.
The health advisory for the commercial rock crab fishery
continues to remain in effect for all waters from the Mendocino/Humboldt County line (40° 00.00' N. Lat.) to 40° 30.00' N. Lat. (near Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County) until such time as samples show that domoic acid levels in the internal organs of rock crab from this region have declined to low or undetectable levels.
Test results are updated as laboratory results become available and can be viewed on the
CDPH Domoic Acid webpage. Please visit
CDPH's Domoic Acid FAQ (PDF) for more information. To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH's toll-free “Shellfish Information Line" at (800) 553-4133.
For sections of the California coast where recreational harvesting of rock crab is permitted, CDPH continues to strongly recommend consumers discard the viscera and any cooking liquids. Additionally, CDPH advises people to follow best preparation practices to avoid any inadvertent exposure to domoic acid that may be sporadically found in the crab's viscera.
It is always best to remove the viscera and rinse out the body cavity prior to cooking (i.e., boil, steam, or fry). If whole crab is cooked in liquid, domoic acid may leach into the cooking liquid. The cooking water or broth should be discarded and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broth, soups, or stews (for example, cioppino or gumbo), stocks, roux, dressings, or dips.
Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days. In severe cases, the consumer may experience trouble breathing, confusion, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory, coma, or death.