State cautions against recreational shellfish harvesting in Santa Cruz, Monterey counties

California experts have discovered dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, toxins in mussels within the pair of coastal counties that can cause illness or death, according to the release.

SANTA CRUZ — State health officials are advising the Santa Cruz County community that it’s probably time to cancel those shellfish foraging plans.

According to a release from the environmental health division of the county’s Health Services Agency, the California Department of Public Health has warned consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels, clams or whole scallops gathered from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

State experts have discovered dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, toxins in mussels within the pair of coastal counties that can cause illness or death, according to the release. The cooking process does not destroy the naturally occurring toxin, which affects the central nervous system and produces a tingling around the mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion.

These symptoms typically give way to a loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In cases of severe poisoning, the toxins can cause complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation.

The warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources, according to the release, and state law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products after frequent and mandatory testing and toxin monitoring.

The shellfish warning is happening concurrently with the state’s annual mussel quarantine, which began May 1 and extends to Oct. 31. The quarantine, implemented to prevent the poisonings, applies to all species of sport-harvested mussels intended for human consumption but it does not apply to commercially sold mussels either.

According to the state health agency, most paralytic shellfish poisoning occurs between the spring and fall seasons but it remains extremely rare due to harvesting safety measures.

The state’s toll-free shellfish information line is 800-553-4133.