Biotoxin closes more of Oregon coast to mussels, some illnesses reported

Published on 5/27/24 at 12:35 PM
By Andre’ Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Oregon Coast) – Last week, Oregon officials had to close mussel harvesting on a portion of the coastline due to a biotoxin, and over the weekend the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) had to close even more. Now ODFW and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) have closed the recreational mussel fishery from Seal Rock to the Washington coastal border.

ODFW again said tests found more shellfish poisoning (PSP) – a natural marine biotoxin – in a larger area of ​​the Oregon coast, after it previously confined Seal Rock at Cape Lookout near Oceanside. Nearly the entire northern half of the coast is not suitable for catching mussels, including Newport, Lincoln City, Pacific City, Garibaldi, Nehalem Bay, Manzanita, Cannon Beach and Seaside.

ODFW said some have already gotten sick.

“Diseases consistent with PSP have been reported in mussels harvested on the North Coast,” the agency said.

Still open for the activity are Waldport, Florence, Reedsport, Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford and Brookings.

“ODFW’s testing showed that PSP levels in mussels have increased in recent weeks and are now above the safety threshold,” ODFW said.

ODFW said the poison builds up in mussels, and like the domoic acid events that can hit crabs hard, it comes from a natural source.

“PSP accumulates in mussels that ingest a naturally occurring dinoflagellate (Alexandrium sp.),” according to ODFW. “PSP poisoning is a byproduct of a group of dinoflagellates that produce saxitoxins that affect the nervous system.”

Consuming shellfish that have fed on toxic dinoflagellates can have serious consequences. Individuals can experience symptoms such as numbness, paralysis, disorientation and even death. These effects can occur within hours of ingestion.

PSP can be found in razor clams, bay leaves, mussels, scallops and oysters.

ODFW reiterated that none of this has anything to do with the oil sheen currently affecting some parts of southern Washington’s coast and beaches.

You can still razor clam on most of the coastline, from Washington to Cape Blanco (near Port Orford). However, that is also closed from that city south to the California border.

Along the entire Oregon coast, bay clams and crabs are still safe and available for harvest.

“ODA will continue to test for shellfish toxins at least twice a month, tides and weather permitting,” ODFW said. “Reopening an area closed due to biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit.”

For more information, call the ODA Shellfish Biotoxin Hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at (503) 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures webpage.

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