Posted by Webmaster on Oct 13, 2009 in
General SALEM (AP) — Health officials have reopened Pacific coastal beaches for recreational razor clamming from the south jetty of Yaquina Bay down to the California border.
The state Monday also approved recreational mussel harvesting from Bastendorff Beach near Charleston to the California border.
The Department of Agriculture and Department of Fish and Wildlife says shellfish samples taken last week show levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have dropped to a safe level. The entire coast had been closed to recreational razor clam and mussel harvest since Sept. 21.
Razor clamming is still closed from the mouth of the Columbia to the north jetty of Yaquina Bay, and mussel harvesting is closed north of Bastendorff Beach.
Tags: Clamming in Oregon, ODFW, Razor clams, toxins
Posted by Webmaster on Oct 6, 2009 in
General The Oregon Department of Agriculture has reopened recreational and commercial clam harvesting in all bays along the entire Oregon Coast, from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border. However, all recreational and commercial razor clam harvesting along coastal beaches remains closed.
Recreational and commercial razor clam and mussel harvesting will remain prohibited on the entire Oregon coast until paralytic shellfish toxin levels fall within the safe range, a press release said.
Coastal scallops are not affected by this closure when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended. Crab and commercially harvested oysters are not affected by this closure.
Shellfish contaminated with PSP toxins can cause minor to severe illness or even death. The symptoms usually begin with tingling of the mouth and tongue. Severe poisoning can result in dizziness, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, paralysis of the arms and legs, and paralysis of the muscles used for breathing.
Shellfish contaminated with PSP toxins cannot be destroyed by cooking, by adding baking soda, or by any other method of processing.
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 information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474, the Food Safety Division at (503) 986-4720 or visit the ODA shellfish closures Web page at http://oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml.
Tags: clam harvesting, harvesting, mussel, razor, scallops, toxins
Posted by Webmaster on Sep 22, 2009 in
General PORTLAND (AP) — The state Department of Agriculture has closed the entire Oregon coast to recreational mussel and clam harvesting because of the risk of toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Agency spokesman Bruce Pokarney said Monday that most of the north and central coast had already been closed to mussel harvesting and the state has banned razor clam harvesting since midsummer for conservation reasons.
The conservation closure ends Oct. 1, but clamming will remain off-limits until toxin levels subside. The agency will test for toxins weekly, as tides permit.
Pokarney says crab is not affected by the level of toxin and is safe to eat.
Shellfish contaminated with PSP toxins can cause minor to severe illness. Symptoms usually start with the tingling of the mouth and tongue. Severe poisoning can result in dizziness, numbness and paralysis.
Tags: clams, closed, Coast, harvesting, mussels, Oregon, toxins
