Dungeness and Rock Crab Health Advisory Partially Lifted along California Coast

December 31, 2015

The health advisory regarding Dungeness and rock crabs caught along the coast between the Santa Barbara/Ventura County Line and Latitude 35° 40' N (near Piedras Blancas Light Station, in San Luis Obispo County) is being lifted along the coasts of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith updated the advisory today because recent tests show that levels of domoic acid have declined to low or undetectable levels in crabs caught in these areas.
 
The advisory remains in effect for state waters around Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands and areas north of Latitude 35° 40' N due to continued elevated levels of domoic acid in crabs caught in those areas. Consumers should not eat Dungeness or rock crabs from those areas. The advisory will be lifted in those areas once ongoing monitoring by CDPH determines crabs from those areas are safe to consume.
 
CDPH and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concur that crabs caught along the coast south of Latitude 35° 40' N are safe to consume. However, as a precaution, consumers are advised not eat the viscera (internal organs, also known as "butter" or "guts") of crabs. The viscera usually contain much higher levels of domoic acid than crab body meat. When whole crabs are cooked in liquid, domoic acid may leach from the viscera into the cooking liquid. Water or broth used to cook whole crabs should be discarded and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broths, soups or stews (for example, cioppino or gumbo), stocks, roux, dressings or dips.
 
The best ways to reduce risk are:

1.    Remove the crab viscera and rinse out the body cavity prior to cooking, or
 
2.   Boil or steam whole crabs, instead of frying or broiling, and discard cooking liquids.

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 victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There have been no reported illnesses associated with this year's domoic acid event.
 
Domoic acid accumulation in seafood is a natural occurrence that is related to a "bloom" of a particular single-celled plant. The conditions that support the growth of this plant are impossible to predict. While the bloom that occurred earlier this year has dissipated, it takes a period of time for the organisms feeding on the phytoplankton to eliminate the domoic acid from their bodies.
 
CDPH will continue to coordinate its efforts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the fishing community to collect crab samples from the central and northern California coast until the domoic acid levels have dissipated.

Second post by F&W:


On Dec. 31, 2015, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) were notified by the director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) that, in consultation with the director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), a determination has been made that Dungeness crab and rock crab caught on the mainland coast south of 35° 40' N latitude (near Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Luis Obispo County) no longer poses a significant human health risk from high levels of domoic acid, and that the fisheries should be opened in a manner consistent with the emergency regulations. This determination was based on extensive sampling conducted by CDPH in close coordination with CDFW and fisheries representatives.

Pursuant to the emergency regulations adopted by the Commission and CDFW on Nov. 5 and 6, respectively, the current open and closed areas are as follows:

Areas open to crab fishing include:

1.    Recreational Dungeness and rock crab fisheries along the mainland coast south of 35° 40' N Latitude (Piedras Blancas Light Station)

2.    Commercial rock crab fishery along the mainland coast south of 35° 40' N Latitude (Piedras Blancas Light Station)

Areas still closed to crab fishing include:

1.    Commercial Dungeness crab fishery statewide

2.    Recreational Dungeness crab fishery north of 35° 40' N Latitude (Piedras Blancas Light Station)

3.    Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries north of 35° 40' N Latitude (Piedras Blancas Light Station)

4.    Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries in state waters around San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands

Despite several weeks of samples below alert levels, as a precaution, CDPH and OEHHA recommend that anglers and consumers not eat the viscera (internal organs, also known as "butter" or "guts") of crabs.

CDPH and OEHHA also recommend that water or broth used to cook whole crabs be discarded, and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broths, soups or stews. The viscera usually contain much higher levels of domoic acid than crab body meat. When whole crabs are cooked in liquid, domoic acid may leach from the viscera into the cooking liquid. This precaution is to avoid harm in the unlikely event that some crabs taken from an open area have elevated levels of domoic acid.

CDFW will continue to closely coordinate with CDPH, OEHHA and fisheries representatives to extensively monitor domoic acid levels in Dungeness crab and rock crabs to determine when the fisheries can safely be opened throughout the state.

So push came to shove somewhere along the line and that idea of keeping the whole state closed til the whole state could be opened kinda fell by the way. 

The odd thing is one would think that water temperatures would be lower the further North you go along the coast.  Yet the areas South of Piedras Blancas Light Station are open.

Is domoic acid levels not in direct correlation to water temps?

How is the bottom off San Simeon for crabbing.  Any tips on good areas closest to San Francisco.  Are there any fish to be legally caught there while crabbing.   Want to have a crabbiest down there since Bodega is still closed?