SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the shellfish safety notification today related to sport-harvested bivalve shellfish from Marin County.  

The safety notification for Marin County was issued on March 30, 2026, due to dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in mussels. These naturally occurring toxins can cause illness or death in humans. Recent testing shows paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have decreased to safe levels in bivalve shellfish in this area.  

While this warning for scallops, clams and oysters in Marin County waters has been lifted, the annual mussel quarantine remains in effect. The annual mussel quarantine prohibits the sport-harvest of mussels for human consumption and applies to all species of mussels harvested along the California coast, as well as all bays and estuaries. The purpose of the annual mussel quarantine, which will continue through at least October 31, is to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning. Cooking does not destroy the toxins. 

There are also shellfish safety notifications in effect warning against eating sport-harvested bivalve shellfish in Del Norte, Sonoma, and San Mateo counties due to marine biotoxins.  Additionally, there is a razor clam advisory for Humboldt County due to domoic acid.  

For the most current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or viewing the recreational bivalve shellfish advisory interactive map. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring web page. ​​​