CDP​H Warns Consumers Not to Eat Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Santa Ba

September 27, 2024

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising consumers not to eat sport-harvested mussels, clams, or scallops from Santa Barbara County.

Dangerous levels of domoic acid, also referred to as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), have been detected in mussels from Santa Barbara County. The naturally occurring domoic acid toxin can cause illness or death in humans. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.

This shellfish safety notification is in addition to the annual mussel quarantine. The annual quarantine applies to all species of mussels harvested for human consumption along the California coast, as well as all bays and estuaries, and will continue through at least October 31.

Symptoms of ASP 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, coma, or death.

This warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops, or oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins.

You can get 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.

Lol, I just slurped down like two limits of rock scallops from down there this weekend. Glad I didn't eat any of the mantle or gonads. I guess they didn't update the hotline in time

Thanks Hojoman! Aren't mussels closed until October 31st statewide? Do they just include them as an extra precaution in case people aren't following the normal closures?