Crabbing closure extended once again on south Oregon coast, Nov. 2

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have extended the closure of recreational and commercial crabbing due to elevated levels of domoic acid. The new closure area is from the north jetty of Coos Bay, including the Coos Bay estuary, to the California border. The closure includes crab harvested in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties. The recreational crabbing season in the ocean closed coast-wide on October 15. Crab harvesting from the north jetty of Coos Bay to the Columbia River remains open in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties. Despite the closure, crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers. For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx