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OREGON COAST Crabbing season finally moving forward Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 22, 2015 at 3:32 PM Posted Dec. 22, 2015 at 3:32 PM » Social News The Associated Press Recreational bay crabbing is open on the Southern Oregon coast after being closed for months and commercial crabbing will start up Jan. 4 The open area for recreational crabbing runs from Heceta Head, north of Florence, to the California border. Crabs harvested in bays and estuaries and off docks, piers, in jetties and the ocean are now OK, according to the state departments of agriculture and fish and wildlife. The temporary ban was due to high levels of a toxin found in shellfish along the West Coast. State scientists are continuing to monitor toxin levels in shellfish along the coast. After being put on hold for a month, commercial crab boats will move out Jan. 1. Commercial boats are allowed to set their gear three days prior to the fishery opening. Unusually warm waters along the Pacific Northwest coastcaused crabs to join 36 marine mammals and three seabirds testing positive for domoic acid this year. Domoic acid, also called amnesic shellfish toxin, can cause dizziness, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea on the mild end. Severe poisoning can result in memory loss and death. Toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other preparation. The acid was a pervasive problem this year. A large algae bloom of pseudo-nitzschia last spring grew into the most harmful algal bloom ever recorded on the West Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Domoic acid poisoning in marine mammals has become common since the first reported case in 1998. In central California, sea lions suffered seizures and died — a common effect of domoic acid poisoning. Scientists at NOAA linked the unusually warm ocean waters this year with the algae bloom, when sea lion seizures and high domoic acid levels were reported as far north as Washington — a first. The first Washington reports came in May. Throughout the year, whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions and three seabirds have all tested positive for domoic acid poisoning. Some exposure was not lethal, and animals can quickly eliminate the toxin from their bodies, posing a problem for scientists trying to gauge exposure level. Even with the closed crab seasons, crabs and shellfish products sold in grocery stores and restaurants are safe, said the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The agriculture department also recommends all crabs should be eviscerated — removing the internal organs and gills — before eating. The domoic acid collects in the viscera, also called the "butter" or guts. For more information, call the Oregon Department of Agriculture's shellfish safety information hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page. Recreational bay crabbing is open on the southern Oregon coast after being closed for months. Commercial crabbing is still closed. The open area runs from Heceta Head, north of Florence, to the California border. Crabs harvested in bays and estuaries and off docks, piers, in jetties and the ocean are now OK, according to the state departments of agriculture and fish and wildlife. The temporary ban was due to high levels of a toxin found in shellfish along the West Coast. State scientists are continuing to monitor toxin levels in shellfish along the coast. Unusually warm waters along the Pacific Northwest coastcaused crabs to join 36 marine mammals and three seabirds testing positive for domoic acid this year. Domoic acid, also called Amnesic Shellfish toxin, can cause dizziness, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea on the mild end. Severe poisoning can result in memory loss and death. Toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other preparation. The acid was a pervasive problem this year. A large algae bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia last spring grew into the most harmful algal bloom ever recorded on the West Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Domoic acid poisoning in marine mammals has become common since the first reported case in 1998. In central California, sea lions suffered seizures and died -- a common effect of domoic acid poisoning. Scientists at NOAA linked the unusually warm ocean waters this year with the algae bloom, when sea lion seizures and high domoic acid levels were reported as far north as Washington -- a first. The first Washington reports came in May. Throughout the year, whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions and three seabirds have all tested positive for domoic acid poisoning. Some exposure was not lethal, and animals can quickly eliminate the toxin from their bodies, posing a problem for scientists trying to gauge exposure level. Even with the closed crab seasons, crabs and shellfish products sold in grocery stores and restaurants are safe, said the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The agriculture department also recommends all crabs should be eviscerated -- removing the internal organs and gills -- before eating. The domoic acid collects in the viscera, also called the "butter" or guts. For more information, call the Oregon Department of Agriculture's shellfish safety information hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 22, 2015 at 3:32 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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