Don’t Eat the Crabs, Neurotoxin at Dangerous Levels

Press release from the Department of Fish and Wildlife:

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Dungeness crabs in a trap. [Photo from Department of Fish and Wildlife.]

Emergency Crab Closure Recommended, Commission to Meet ThursdayThe California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a health advisory warning individuals to avoid eating rock and Dungeness crab due to the detection of high levels of domoic acid. The advisory was followed by a recommendation from the Office of Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to the California Fish and Game Commission and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to delay the start of the Dungeness crab season and close the rock crab fishery. These actions would apply to each fishery from the Oregon border to the southern Santa Barbara County line.

The OEHHA recommendation has prompted an emergency meeting of the Commission, which will take place at 8 a.m. onThursday, Nov. 5 (agenda and meeting information). At that time, the Commission will consider voting to delay the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. The recreational Dungeness crab season is currently scheduled to startSaturday, Nov. 7.

Also based on the recommendation from OEHHA, CDFW will act on its authority to delay the start of the commercial Dungeness crab season. The commercial Dungeness crab season is currently scheduled to start Sunday, Nov. 15 in most of the state.
Similar action will be considered by the Commission and CDFW to close the recreational and commercial rock crab fisheries in the affected area. Both recreational and commercial rock crab seasons are open all year.

“These are incredibly important fisheries to our coastal economies and fresh crab is highly anticipated and widely enjoyed this time of year. Of course, delaying or closing the season is disappointing,” said CDFW Marine Regional Manager Craig Shuman. “But public health and safety is our top priority.”

CDFW, along with the OEHHA and CDPH, has been actively testing crabs since early September. OEHHA announced today that consumption of Dungeness and rock crabs is likely to pose a significant human health risk as a result of high levels of domoic acid. CDFW will continue to coordinate with OEHHA and CDPH to test domoic acid levels in crab along the coast to determine when the fisheries can safely be opened.

Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin that can accumulate in shellfish, other invertebrates and sometimes fish. It causes illness and sometimes death in a variety of birds and marine mammals that consume affected organisms. At low levels, domoic acid exposure can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness in humans. At higher levels, it can cause persistent short-term memory loss, seizures and can in some cases be fatal.

Domoic acid is produced from some species of the marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia. Currently, a massive toxic bloom ofPseudo-nitzschia has developed, significantly impacting marine life along California’s coast. State scientists have been testing crab from eight fishing ports from Morro Bay to Crescent City, and have determined that the neurotoxin has spread throughout the fishery grounds.

Algal blooms are common, but this one is particularly large and persistent. Warmer ocean water temperatures associated with the El Niño event California is experiencing is likely a major contributing factor to the size and persistence of this bloom.

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This is the fourth year of California’s drought. To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, please visit drought.ca.gov.

 

Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at saveourwater.com.

 

Please do not reply to this email. This account is for outgoing messages only and is not checked for incoming mail. For questions about this news release, please contact the individual(s) listed above. Thank you.

 

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When you prepare your California income tax return, please consider making a voluntary contribution to the California Sea Otter Fund (line 410) and/or the Rare and Endangered Species Fund (line 403). Thank you! www.wildlife.ca.gov/tax-donation.

 

Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact the department’s Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator Melissa Carlin at (916) 651-1214 or [email protected]. Reasonable accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received at least 21 days prior to the event. Requests for American Sign Language interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for real-time captioning at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met. If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but due to circumstances is no longer needed, please contact the Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator immediately.

 

 

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4704376-181/state-poised-to-close-dungeness

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zoltanwelvart
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zoltanwelvart
8 years ago

I dream of domonic,I see a cigarette dipd in it.not for side effects but the soothing amnesia.another chance to loose everything,start again.like ketamin,disrupts learned behavior.stops stimuli and let’s one thimk.our learned behavior let’s us seek only rote behavior.so relaxing.like having a bowel movement.living ones life without thimking.stress disconnects synapses in brain.and you imagine me to be nonsensical .

Crescent city
Guest
Crescent city
8 years ago
Reply to  zoltanwelvart

Wow man! You sound intelligent.

zoltanwelvart
Guest
zoltanwelvart
8 years ago
Reply to  Crescent city

Heavy green dirt that is phytoplankton.com

gunther
Guest
gunther
8 years ago

Thanks for covering this story. It’s a big deal for many of us here.

Sparklemahn
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Sparklemahn
8 years ago

!

psycho john
Guest
psycho john
8 years ago

pseudo nitzshea

Janice
Guest
Janice
8 years ago
Reply to  psycho john

IKR?

Triniboldticino
Guest
Triniboldticino
8 years ago

I wonder . . . I have little to no trust in any government agency, nor the motivations of government in general. What have been the results of testing for Fukushima residue, and would they even report the truth if they knew it? That is one GIANT algal bloom if, in fact, it exists.

Go Get Em
Guest
Go Get Em
8 years ago

Find out for yourself what the truth is. Harvest and cook crab whole. Make sure to consume the “butter” as well as the meat. Report back what your findings are.

zoltanwelvart
Guest
zoltanwelvart
8 years ago
Reply to  Go Get Em

I forgot.