Sport-Harvested Mussel Quarantine Lifted Along the California Coast
Date: October 29, 2021
Number: SN21-008
Contact: CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program
SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that the statewide annual quarantine on mussels gathered by sport harvesters from California's ocean waters ends at midnight on Saturday, October 31, 2021, for all coastal counties.
The annual quarantine on sport-harvested mussels, which typically runs May 1 through October 31, is intended to protect the public from shellfish poisoning caused by marine biotoxins. Concentrated levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins and domoic acid can develop in mussels and other bivalve shellfish when they feed on certain naturally occurring marine plankton. There have been no reports of shellfish-related poisonings in California during this quarantine period.
CDPH's shellfish sampling and testing programs issue warnings or quarantines when needed. Local health departments, various state, federal and tribal agencies, community groups and others participate in the monitoring program. Residents and community groups interested in volunteering to assist with the testing program should email RedTide@cdph.ca.gov or call (800) 553-4133.
Updated information about current conditions is available by calling the Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or viewing the recreational bivalve shellfish advisory interactive map. More information can be found on the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Web page or the CDPH Annual Mussel Quarantine - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Web page.