SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the shellfish safety notification today related to sport-harvested bivalve shellfish from Del Norte County. 

The safety notification for Del Norte County was issued on May 1, 2026, due to dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in mussels. These naturally occurring toxins can cause illness or death in humans. Recent testing shows paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins have decreased to safe levels in bivalve shellfish in this area. 

While this warning for clams, scallops and oysters in Del Norte County has been lifted, the annual mussel quarantine remains in effect. The annual quarantine prohibits the sport-harvest of mussels for human consumption and applies to all species of mussels harvested along the California coast, as well as all bays and estuaries, and will continue through at least October 31. Additionally, there is a razor clam advisory for Humboldt County due to domoic acid. ​

For the most current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines, call CDPH's toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or view the recreational bivalve shellfish advisory interactive map. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring web page. ​​​​