Dept. of Health Issue Ominous Warning: Don't Eat Shellfish from Santa Monia Bay, It May Be Poisoned

Please don't eat recreationally harvested shellfish, including mussels, oysters, clams, and scallops, from Santa Monica Bay and other Southern California coastal areas due to toxic algae blooms.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued advisories indicating that dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, caused by naturally occurring algae, have been detected in recreationally harvested shellfish from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties, including Los Angeles County, which encompasses Santa Monica Bay.

These toxins can cause severe illness or death in humans, with symptoms ranging from tingling and numbness to respiratory paralysis. The advisory specifically applies to sport-harvested shellfish and does not include commercially harvested shellfish from certified sources, which are subject to rigorous testing.

An annual quarantine on sport-harvested mussels is in effect from May 1 to October 31 along the entire California coast, but recent warnings have extended to other shellfish and additional counties due to elevated toxin levels.

Experts highlight ongoing concerns about toxic algae affecting shellfish in this region, reinforcing the CDPH's guidance to avoid consumption of recreationally caught shellfish. For the most current information, you can contact the CDPH shellfish hotline at 1-800-553-4133.