Shellfish harvest closures ordered along Oregon coast due to marine toxins, May 11

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce two new shellfish harvest closures due to marine toxins along the Oregon Coast. All shellfish harvesting is closed from the mouth of the Columbia River to Tillamook Head, south of Seaside on the north Oregon coast, due to elevated levels of domoic acid. In addition, recreational mussel harvesting is closed from Cascade Head, north of Lincoln City, to the north jetty of the Rogue River near Gold Beach on the south coast due to elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin. Meanwhile, a razor clam harvest closure for domoic acid remains in affect from the south jetty of the Siuslaw River near Florence to the California border. Coastal scallops are not affected by these closures when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreational scallops is not recommended. Crab is not affected by the closures. Commercial shellfish products remain safe for consumers. Samples taken from commercial markets show no biotoxins at this time. Shellfish toxins 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://oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml>.