Mussel Quarantine

(Santa Ana) – The County of Orange Health Care Agency reminds shellfish consumers that the Annual Mussel Quarantine in California will take effect on May 1st and will continue through October 31st, 2006. Sport harvesting of mussels for human consumption is prohibited along the entire California coastline. All bays and inlets are included in the quarantine. The purpose of this quarantine is to protect the public from deadly poisons that may be present in bivalve mollusks, such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops. Between 1927 and 2005, California recorded 521 cases of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, including 32 deaths.

The greatest hazard is poisoning from mussels because they develop high levels of toxin more quickly than other mollusks and are eaten whole without removal of digestive organs. All dark parts should be removed from clams, oysters and scallops before eating, since the poison may be concentrated in those areas. Health officials emphasize that toxic mussels cannot be distinguished from harmless ones. Moreover, cooking does not destroy the toxins, as they are relatively heat resistant.

The California quarantine applies only to mussels collected locally by sports harvesters. All commercial shellfish harvesters in California must be certified by the State and are subject to strict testing requirements.

The safest guideline to follow is: Do not eat mussels from California coastal waters collected by sports harvesters until after October 31.