Recreational Dungeness crab fishery cleared of toxic health threat
SAN FRANCISCO - It's safe to eat Dungeness crab meat taken from the waters of northern California after tests showed it no longer poses a health threat, state officials said Monday.
That clears recreational fishing for Dungeness crab in the waters of Humboldt and Del Norte counties, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
However, commercial fishing is still suspended off Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties until Dec. 31, because of poor quality crab, the agency said.
Domoic acid, a natural toxin found in shellfish, can cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea, and in severe cases can bring on breathing complications, seizures, or death.
All sections of the California coast will be open for recreational harvesting of Dungeness
crab, based on the recommendation of the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Still, health officials strongly recommend that consumers avoid eating the crab's internal organs, also known as "butter," because they can hold higher levels of domoic acid than the meat.
The commercial Dungeness crab season has yet to open from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the Mexican border because of the risk of whales being entangled in fishing gear.
The original start date for the Dungeness crab fishing season was Nov. 2.
Featured
Dungeness crab season delayed again, 6th year in row
The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season in California has been delayed for the seventh year in a row to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines.