CDPH Warns Not to Eat Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Sonoma County

March 14, 2018

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels, clams or whole scallops from Sonoma County. Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been detected in mussels from this area. The naturally occurring PSP toxins can cause illness or death in humans. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.
 
This warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins.
 
PSP toxins affect the central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms are typically followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur.

Blammo.  Called that one the other day, after Marin shut down.  Thanks Hojo

Bummer.  Been following this on the local news.  Was planning on clamming this month but will have to postpone.  Hopefully this doesn't last too long.

Be safe out there fellas, looks like someone already had a bad day because of this:

https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/marin-bay-area-toxic-shellfish-mussels-poisoning-12752004.php

So let me get this straight--- These symptoms are typically followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech.

So basically eat poison mussel and turn into Andy?

Bummer.  Been following this on the local news.  Was planning on clamming this month but will have to postpone.  Hopefully this doesn't last too long.

You can always hope, but I would expect it might last a while.  Shellfish gets closed pretty much every summer for this, but middle of March is much earlier than typical.  The classic warning/no-take period is "months without R"  meaning May-August.

Bummer.  Been following this on the local news.  Was planning on clamming this month but will have to postpone.  Hopefully this doesn't last too long.

You can always hope, but I would expect it might last a while.  Shellfish gets closed pretty much every summer for this, but middle of March is much earlier than typical.  The classic warning/no-take period is "months without R"  meaning May-August.

You need to call the quarantine hotline before harvesting. You cannot rely on months with no "R" rule.

1-800-553-4133

Be safe out there fellas, looks like someone already had a bad day because of this:

https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/marin-bay-area-toxic-shellfish-mussels-poisoning-12752004.php

"In the last 90 years, California state statistics say there have been 542 reported illnesses and 39 deaths due to paralytic shellfish poison."

And we're worried about GWS attacks.

Bummer.  Been following this on the local news.  Was planning on clamming this month but will have to postpone.  Hopefully this doesn't last too long.

You can always hope, but I would expect it might last a while.  Shellfish gets closed pretty much every summer for this, but middle of March is much earlier than typical.  The classic warning/no-take period is "months without R"  meaning May-August.

You need to call the quarantine hotline before harvesting. You cannot rely on months with no "R" rule.

1-800-553-4133

Always good advice to check the latest on the hotline at any point during the year.

The point of my noting the classic advice was in reference to whether the closure is likely to be lifted anytime soon, not that it's the ONLY advice and always reliable.  During the summer months I don't even bother checking and just assume the shellfish quarantine is in place.  Last year the quarantine in Sonoma county actually lasted until the middle of January.

Last year the quarantine in Sonoma county actually lasted until the middle of January.

This year as well.  Was open for about 7 weeks or so? 

Bummer.  Been following this on the local news.  Was planning on clamming this month but will have to postpone.  Hopefully this doesn't last too long.

You can always hope, but I would expect it might last a while.  Shellfish gets closed pretty much every summer for this, but middle of March is much earlier than typical.  The classic warning/no-take period is "months without R"  meaning May-August.

You need to call the quarantine hotline before harvesting. You cannot rely on months with no "R" rule.

1-800-553-4133

Always good advice to check the latest on the hotline at any point during the year.

The point of my noting the classic advice was in reference to whether the closure is likely to be lifted anytime soon, not that it's the ONLY advice and always reliable.  During the summer months I don't even bother checking and just assume the shellfish quarantine is in place. Last year the quarantine in Sonoma county actually lasted until the middle of January.

For Mussels maybe but you said shellfish.

"Shellfish" covers a broad spectrum and there are various quarantines for clams, scallops, crabs, mussels etc.
These various quarantines are year around and vary throughout California.

Like you mentioned in your first sentence its best to call the number and be safe.

This warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins.
 

Weird aren't the commercially sold shellfish harvested from the same water in TBay? My buddy and I saw the posted warnings at Nick's Cove launch.