SEASIDE, Ore. — The harvesting of mussels is closed along the entire Oregon Coast, state agencies warned Thursday, while harvesting of other shellfish is closed for large stretches of the coastline.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the new closures, warning that mussels, razor clams and bay clams may have high levels of the marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poison.
At least 20 people fell ill after eating mussels gathered over the weekend at Short Beach near Oceanside in Tillamook County and at Hug Point near Seaside in Clatsop County, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). An unknown number were hospitalized, but the OHA said there have been no reported deaths.
The patients reported symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which can cause numbness of the mouth and lips, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and in severe cases shortness of breath or irregular heartbeat.
Anyone who experiences any these symptoms should immediately contact a health care provider or call the Oregon Poison Center for advice at 800-222-1222, according to OHA.
On Thursday, the state announced that it would extend closures for mussel harvesting to encompass the entire Oregon Coast.
Meanwhile, razor clam harvesting is closed from the Yachats River to the California border for both PSP risk and levels of domoic acid. Razor clam harvesting is open from the Washington border to the Yachats River.
Bay clam harvesting also is closed from the Washington border to Cascade Head; this includes all clam species in the bays. However, bay clam harvesting is open from Cascade Head to the California border.
Crab harvesting, however, remains open along the entire coast, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said.
Oregon Department of Agriculture will continue to test for shellfish toxins twice per month, as tides and weather permit. Reopening an area closed for biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit.
Contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for recreational license requirements, permits, rules and limits.
For more information, call Oregon Department of Agriculture's shellfish biotoxin safety hotline at (800) 448-2474, the Food Safety Division at (503) 986-4720, or visit the ODA recreational shellfish biotoxin closures webpage.