CDPH Lifts Warning About Consuming the Internal Organs of Sport-Harvested Dungeness Crab from Parts of the California Coast 

November 19, 2024 
SN24-01​9

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What You Need To Know: CDPH is lifting the warning about consuming internal organs of sport-harvested Dungeness crab caught from two coastal areas of the Northern California coast. 

Sacramento – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the shellfish safety notification for Dungeness crab internal organs (viscera) caught in state waters located at: 

• Reading Rock State Marine Reserve (41° 17.6' N. Latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40° 10' N. Latitude) and 

• Sonoma/Mendocino County line (38° 46.125' N. Latitude) to Point Reyes (38⁰ 0.00' N. Latitude). 

CDPH has lifted its Dungeness Crab Inte​rnal Organs Advisory dated November 1, 2024, where consumers were warned against eating Dungeness crab viscera. Recent laboratory analyses show that the domoic acid levels in Dungeness crab harvested along these coastal areas of Northern California have declined to low or undetectable levels. There have been no reported illnesses associated with this event. 

This notification does not change the Dungeness Whole Crab Advisory dated November 1, 2024 for state waters located from California /Oregon border (42° 0.00' N. Latitude) to Reading Rock State Marine Reserve (41° 17.6' N. Latitude) which warns the public to not consume any sport-harvested whole Dungeness crab caught along this area of the Northern California coast. This warning remains in effect until further notice. 

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 may disappear within several days. In severe cases, the consumer may experience trouble breathing, confusion, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory, coma, or death. 

​Test results are updated as laboratory results become available and can be viewed on the CDPH Domoic Acid webpage. Please visit CDPH's Domoic Acid FAQ for more information. To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH's toll-free “Shellfish Information Line" at (800) 553-4133. ​