Additional Recreational Dungeness Crab Area Delay in Portions of Humboldt County Due to Public Health Hazard

State health agencies have determined that Dungeness crab from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Protected Areas (41⁰ 17.6’ N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County (40⁰ 10’ N. latitude) pose a human health risk due to elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a delay of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. Following this recommendation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has delayed the recreational Dungeness crab fishery in this area. 

This follows action taken by Director Hertel on October 30 to restrict the use of recreational crab traps due to entanglement risk and delay the opening of the fishery in southern Humboldt County/northern County due to elevated levels of domoic acid. The full the area where the recreational fishery is delayed now extends from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Protected Areas (41⁰ 17.6’ N. latitude) to the southern boundary of the Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (39° 33.3’ N. latitude). Recreational take and/or possession of Dungeness crab is prohibited in these closed waters. 

This closure shall remain in effect until the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in consultation with the State Public Health Officer at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), determines that domoic acid no longer poses a significant public health risk.

Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin produced by Pseudo-nitzschia spp., a naturally occurring single-celled, marine alga under certain ocean conditions. Domoic acid can accumulate in shellfish, other invertebrates and sometimes fish without the organism becoming ill themselves. At low levels, domoic acid exposure can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness in humans. At higher levels, it can cause persistent short-term memory loss, seizures and can in some cases be fatal.

Information will be updated on CDFW’s fishery information and health advisories website. 

To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Information Line at (831) 649-2883.  

For the latest consumption warnings, call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133 or visit their shellfish and seafood advisories web page. 

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Media Contacts: 
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858
Christy Juhasz, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 292-2480 

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