The human health risk of marine biotoxin exposure is significant. Because
of this, fishing and shellfishing activities are closely monitored by
health officials so that the risk is reduced to a minimum. When considering
the number of meals and millions of pounds of seafood consumed each
day from commercial sources (restaurants and markets), the incidences
of foodborne illness due to toxic seafood is extremely low. This is
due to the fact that local and national government agencies are providing
monitoring and surveillance programs to ensure that before seafoods
are marketed for sale, they are tested thoroughly for various marine
biotoxins.
Since few people are poisoned by commercial seafoods, many recreational
fishers think that all fish and shellfish taken from apparent clean
waters and beaches are safe to eat immediately. This thought is particularly
tempting when fishers visit far and remote sites where there is no visible
evidence of human habitation. Additionally, by their nature, recreational
fishing sites far outnumber commercial fishing areas. These circumstances,
plus constrained funding and resources, substantially reduce the abilities
of local, state, and federal agencies from adequately monitoring many
remote areas. In some states, such as Alaska, virtually all beaches
are closed permanently to the recreational digging of shellfish. Areas
remain closed until opened by the state authorities before digging is
permitted.
Here we provide information to recreational fishers about marine biotoxin
and HAB risks. A little bit of knowledge about the sources and origins of
biotoxins can go a long way to reduce the chances of illness or fatalities
from recreationally collected fish and shellfish. For example, in many places
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning or PSP shows seasonal and geographic trends.
Knowing where and when to dig shellfish can substantially reduce the chances
of illness. To help communicate some of this information, we have made available
several publications suitable for the general public discussing the origins
and occurrences of HABs and biotoxins.
An important caveat! These publications are NOT a substitute
for getting current information from local risk management agencies
as to closures or warnings. In these publications, we also provide hotline
telephone numbers for the west coast states and British Columbia. Additionally,
in our links section, we provide, where available, links to local and
state web pages that have current information about beach and water
closures. However, be aware that phone numbers, web pages,
and programs undergo changes. It is the recreational fishers
responsibility to seek out accurate information about local conditions
concerning the safety of personally caught or dug seafoods.