Mussel Quarantine Came Early

It does not normally occur before May, but this year it came in to effect a week or so ago....

WARNING: Under certain conditions, wild mussels can be harmful to your health, even fatal.
The California Department of Health Services operates a shellfish monitoring program where wild mussels are tested regularly. There is an annual quarantine period from May 1st to October 31st, when most outbreaks of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) have occurred.

There is a "Shellfish Information Line" which has a recorded message of the current conditions, and should be referred to before you go out, even during the "good" season. Call toll free at 1-800-553-4133 or 1-510-540-260

Dang that stinks, I love to get some fresh mussels during the first month of ab season. Anybody no the reason why this would occur early this year? or maybe they just fear the radiation poisoning.   

I read that it's because they detected high levels of domoic acid in mussels in recent samples, though it did not mention where the samples were collected from.