CDPH Lifts Warning for Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Sonoma County

June 11, 2026

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) lifted the shellfish safety notification on June 11, 2026 related to sport-harvested bivalve shellfish from Sonoma County.

The safety notification for Sonoma County was issued on April 9, 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 Sonoma 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 through at least October 31. The purpose of the annual mussel quarantine is to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning. Cooking does not destroy the toxins.

There is a shellfish safety notification in effect warning against eating sport-harvested bivalve shellfish in Del Norte County 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 by calling 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.