Health and Safety Warnings & Advisories
Annual Quarantine of Sport-Harvested Mussels - May 1 through October 31 until further notice
Every year, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announces an annual quarantine of sport-harvested mussels gathered along the California coast. The quarantine is in effect from May 1 until October 31 (or later, depending on biotoxin levels) and applies to all species of mussels that are recreationally harvested along the California coast, including all bays and estuaries. The quarantine is in place to protect the public against poisoning that can lead to serious illness, including coma and death.
CDPH's Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program's Annual Mussel Quarantine - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Marin County - July 26, 2024, until further notice
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising not to consume sport-harvested bivalve shellfish gathered from Marin County due to detection of dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins. The naturally occurring PSP toxins can cause illness or death in humans and cooking does not destroy the toxin. This shellfish safety notification is in addition to the annual mussel quarantine. Visit the CDPH's July 26, 2024, News Release for more information.