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ODA Food Safety Division
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Shellfish safety closures
Shellfish safety hotline
Recreational shellfish harvesting status as of 9/08/08
Most recent news release
What are shellfish safety closures
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) levels have risen
Domoic acid results continue to be in safe range
Harmful algae bloom monitoring: Elevated levels reported
Biotoxin results of interest
Shellfish safety hotline
The Oregon Dept of Agriculture's shellfish safety hotline is toll free and provides the most current information regarding shellfish safety closures.
 
1-800-448-2474 toll free or (503) 986-4728 outside of Oregon

 
The ODA web pages may not be updated as quickly as the shellfish closures recording. Please call the shellfish safety hotline before harvesting.
Recreational shellfish harvesting status as of 9/08/08
  • Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) levels have fallen below the alert level on the North Oregon Coast
  • Domoic acid results continue to be in safe range
  • Harmful algae bloom monitoring: Elevated levels reported
Please note: when shellfish toxin levels exceed the "alert" level, and a new shellfish closure must be issued, the ODA web pages may not be updated as quickly as the shellfish closures recording. Please check ODA's shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or (503) 986-4728 outside of Oregon for current information.
 
This web page provides an update of on-going shellfish safety closures on the Oregon coast. This information will be updated when there are new closures, openings, significant changes in shellfish toxin levels, or other events of interest to harvesters.
 
Most recent news release
9/08/08 – Oregon coastal beaches reopen to mussel harvesting
08/19/08 – Mussel harvest closure on north coast beaches expanded due to marine toxins
08/01/08 - North coast beaches closed to mussel harvesting due to marine toxins
07/08/08 - Oregon coastal beaches reopen to mussel harvesting
What are shellfish safety closures
The Oregon Dept of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W) jointly issue shellfish safey closures to protect recreational shellfish harvesters from consuming clams or mussels which may cause human illness. Shellfish can be contaminated by natural events such as harmful algae blooms (HAB’s) or man-made events such as a sewage spill.
 
Marine biotoxins -- paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid, are the most common reasons for shellfish closures in Oregon coastal waters. Biotoxins can cause mild to severe health problems for consumers. Visit one of these web sites below for more information about marine biotoxins.
 
The Harmful Algae Page -- http://www.whoi.edu/redtide
Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) - HABs Links -- http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/hab/links/index.html

Olympic Region Harmful Algal Blooms - ORHAB Partnership -- http://www.orhab.org
ODA and ODF&W routinely collect shellfish samples and test for PSP and domoic acid. Recreational shellfish safety closures and sampling results are summarized in this update. For more information about Oregon’s shellfish resources visit
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams
 
Commercial shellfish for human consumption on the market, including oysters, clams and mussels are part of the ODA food safety division and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection and sampling program. If you think you have become ill from consuming shellfish (commercial or recreational) you should seek medical assistance and/or contact your local county health dept to report your illness.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) levels have risen
PSP levels have fallen below the alert level on the N. Oregon Coast
Recent mussel samples taken from the North Coast area indicate levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins have fallen below the alert level on the north Oregon coast. Mussel harvesting is now open along the entire Oregon coast. However, Clatsop County beaches north of Tillamook Head remain closed to razor clam harvesting from July 15 to September 30, for ODFW conservation closure.
 
Weekly PSP monitoring will continue through the summer as tides permit. Warm ocean waters and calm seas are favorable conditions for a bloom of the alga that produces PSP toxins. A shellfish safety closure is issued immediately if PSP levels rise above the alert level of 80 mcgm/100 grams. For the most current information please check the shellfish safety hotline: (1-800-448-2474).
 
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. PSP shellfish toxins are produced by algae and usually originate in the ocean.
 
 
Domoic acid results continue to be in safe range
Domoic acid, the other shellfish toxin monitored for shellfish safety, continues to test in the safe range.
 
Mussels and clams sampled between September 2 and September 4, 2008 contained very low levels of domoic acid. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by marine phytoplankton or algae. Eating shellfish contaminated with domoic acid can cause minor illness within minutes to hours after consumption. The toxin is not destroyed by cooking, adding baking soda, or any other method. In mild cases, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and headache. More severe cases can result in memory problems and even death.
 
Commercial harvest of razor clams for human consumption is limited to Clatsop Beach (open status only). The Oregon Dept of Agriculture (ODA) has authority to restrict the distribution of shellfish sold by commercial processors and will halt distribution if sampling indicates clams are nearing the “alert” level for either biotoxin - 20 parts per million (ppm) for domoic acid and 80 micrograms per 100 grams for PSP. The alert level for a biotoxin is the point at which harvest controls are implemented to assure shellfish toxins in harvested products are not at higher levels where illness may occur. Samples are collected weekly during the warmer months for shellfish biotoxins – domoic acid (DA) and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
Harmful algae bloom monitoring: Elevated levels reported
ODA and ODF&W monitor for the toxigenic alga or plankton that produces domoic acid and PSP. The latest reports provided to ODA indicated that levels of algae that produce domoic acid and/or Pseudo-nitzshia have increased along much of Oregon's central and southern coast.
 
Algae blooms can occur suddenly and create the need to close areas with little warning. The toxin closure ‘trigger’ levels are set to provide a margin of safety and protect the public by closing areas before levels become unsafe. Weather and surf conditions may affect shellfish sampling.
Information on harmful algae blooms.
 
Recreational razor clammers are reminded new algae blooms may require a shellfish safety closure with little warning. Samples are collected during low tides when clams are accessible. Sampling may be limited due to storms or rough surf. Razor clams retain the naturally produced toxin after the algae bloom dissipates. Clams may take several months or years to purge the toxin. There must be two consecutive sets of samples with results less than 20 ppm before a closed area opening can be considered.

History has shown domoic acid or PSP levels in clams or mussels can double in less than five days. The public should stay alert for changes in the status of all shellfish harvesting areas.

Harvesters should check this web site and the shellfish information hotline regularly to determine if the area they want to harvest is open. Shellfish harvesting areas are closed to all harvesting when toxins exceed an "alert" level. Alert levels, 20 ppm for domoic acid and 80 micrograms/100 grams for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) provide a margin of safety and halt harvest before toxins reach a higher level that may cause illness.

Check with ODF&W regarding recreational shellfish licenses and shellfish protection areas. For more information on Oregon’s razor clams visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/razorclams .
Biotoxin results of interest
Week of September 1, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // <37.7 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm // <37.4 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 42.2 mcgm - Lane County, Baker Beach (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 37.5 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm //  50.6 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 41.3  mcgm - Newport, North Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.3 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)


Week of August 24, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // 55.2 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm // 75.2 mcgm - N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // <36.6 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // <35.7 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // <37.1 mcgm - Clatsop Beach, South Jetty (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // <38.9 mcgm - Cape Meares (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.7 mcgm - Yachats, Smelt Sands SP (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 46.4 mcgm - Siuslaw Bay, North Jetty (mussels)
  • NA // < 36.9 mcgm - Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)
  • NA // 35.2 - Ona Beach State Park (mussels)


Week of August 17, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // < 35.6 mcgm - Netarts Bay (cockles)
  • < 1 ppm // 46.0 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.6 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 48.1 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.2 mcgm - Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // <35.8 mcgm - Lane County, Baker Beach (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 54.3 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // NA        mcgm - Mid Coos County, Whiskey Run (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // 41.2 mcgm - Cape Meares, Short Sands Beach (mussels)


Results summarized below are for domoic acid (DA) and // PSP


Week of August 10, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // 107.8 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)   
  • < 1 ppm // 46.4 mcgm - N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 66.0 mcgm - Cape Mears, Short Sands Beach (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.2 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.0 mcgm - Siuslaw Bay, North Jetty & Ocean (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 39.0 mcgm - Yachats, Smelt Sands SP (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 34.6 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)   
  • < 1 ppm // < 35 mcgm - Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // 42.5 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)   


Week of August 3, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // < 37 mcgm - Newport, North Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 39 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // NA - Whiskey Run/Mid Coos County Beaches (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm //  52.2 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 38 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // <37.2 mcgm - Lane County, North Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.3 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 55.2 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)   

Week of July 27, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.4 mcgm - N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.8 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)    
  • 1.3 ppm // < 38 mcgm - Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.8 mcgm - Siuslaw Bay, North Jetty & Ocean (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.8 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.4 mcgm - Cape Mears (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm //  57.7 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.7 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm // 115.4 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)
  • 1.3 ppm // NA - Ona Beach State Park, North of Ona (razor clams)

Week of July 20, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.4 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm //  < 38.5 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.5 mcgm - Netarts Bay  (cockles)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.7 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)    
  • 1.1 // NA - Whiskey Run/Mid Coos County Beaches (razor clams)    
  • < 1 // < 36 mcgm - Lane County Area, MP 180 Baker Beach (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.7 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.2 mcgm - Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 37 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)

Week of July 13, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // NA - South of Ona Beach State Park (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.4 mcgm - Yachats, Smelt Sands SP (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.4 mcgm - Siuslaw Bay, North Jetty & Ocean (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.6 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.4 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm //  41.2 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.4 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm // < 36 mcgm - N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 37.1 mcgm - Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)    
  • < 1 ppm // NA - Whiskey Run/Mid Coos County Beaches (razor clams)

Week of July 6, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.6 mcgm - Cape Mears (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 61.0 mcgm - Silver Point (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.4 mcgm - Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 34.6 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 37.9 mcgm - N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 35 mcgm - Alsea Bay, Bayshore Spit (cockles)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 33.6 mcgm - Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 43.9 mcgm - Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)

Week of June 29, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.2 mcgm – Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 46.8 mcgm – Silver Point (mussels)            
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.6 mcgm – Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 35.2 mcgm – Yachats, Smelt Sands SP (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 48.5 mcgm – Cape Mears (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // 45.1 mcgm – Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 37.4 mcgm – Cannon Beach, Ecola St. Park, (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // NA – South of Ona Beach State Park (razor clams)
  •       NA    // < 38.4 mcgm - Alsea Bay, Bayshore Spit (eastern thin)
  • < 1 ppm // NA mcgm – Clatsop Beach, Seaside (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm    // < 37.3 mcgm – Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // NA – Whiskey Run/Mid Coos County Beaches (razor clams)    
  •       NA    // < 37.9mcgm - Alsea Bay, Lower Bay (cockles)

Week of June 15, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // 40.9 mcgm - Bob Creek, Bob Creek Wayside (mussels)
  • 1.7 ppm // < 37.6 mcgm – Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // 55.2 mcgm – Silver Point (mussels)        
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.2 mcgm – Clatsop Beach, Seaside (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.1 – Cannon Beach, Ecola St. Park, Indian Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.6 mcgm – Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 73.2 mcgm – Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)    
  • < 1 ppm // < 38.0 mcgm – Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // NA – Whiskey Run/Mid Coos County Beaches (razor clams)

Week of June 8, 2008
  • < 1 ppm // 42.6 mcgm – Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 89.0 mcgm – Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.7 mcgm – Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 78.2 mcgm – Silver Point (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 41.5 mcgm – N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 68.1 mcgm – Cape Mears (mussels)

Week of June 1, 2008
  • 7.0 // NA mcgm – Gold Beach, Myers Creek (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.4 mcgm – Gold Beach, Myers Creek (mussels)
  • NA // NA – Yaquina Bay, Oyster Farm (oysters)
  • < 1 ppm // 38.9 mcgm – N. Lincoln County, 15th Street (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // < 37.6 mcgm – Newport, Agate Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 36.9 mcgm – Yachats, Smelt Sands SP (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 48.1 mcgm – Bastendorf Beach to Cape Arago (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // NA – Cannon Beach, Ecola St. Park, Indian Beach (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // 40.1 mcgm – Columbia River, South Jetty (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // NA – North of Ona Beach State Park (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 35.6 mcgm – South Jetty, Umpqua River (oysters)
  • < 1 ppm // NA – Clatsop Beach, South Jetty (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // < 34.2 mcgm – Clatsop Beach, Seaside (razor clams)
  • < 1 ppm // 66.5 mcgm – Silver Point (mussels)
  • < 1 ppm // 76.1 mcgm – Cape Mears (mussels)    
  • 1.3 // NA mcgm – Whiskey Run/Mid Coos County Beaches (razor clams)
 
Page updated: September 08, 2008

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