The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are reopening a portion of the coast to recreational and commercial mussel harvesting, from Cape Arago, south of Coos Bay, to the California border. Shellfish samples taken from the area indicate levels of the marine toxin domoic acid have dropped below the alert level. The area was originally closed to mussel harvesting July 17. Because of elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST), a closure remains in effect for harvesting of mussels from Cape Meares, south of Tillamook Bay, to Heceta Head, north of Florence. Recreational harvesting of mussels remains open from the Columbia River to Cape Meares and from Heceta Head to the California border. Recreational harvesting a bay clams is open along the entire Oregon coast. Meanwhile, all razor clamming remains closed for the entire Oregon coast because of elevated levels of domoic acid. Coastal scallops are not affected by these closures when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended. Crab and oysters are also not affected by any closure and are safe to eat. Commercial shellfish products remain safe for consumers. PST and domoic acid are produced by algae and usually originate in the ocean. ODA will continue to test for shellfish toxins weekly, as tides permit. Reopening of an area requires two consecutive tests in the safe range. 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>.
