Domoic acid levels have dropped in small finfish like anchovies and sardines, which are considered safe again in Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Santa Cruz counties, as are bivalves (mussels and clams). But Dungeness and rock crab remain on the “do not eat” list due to toxic levels of domoic acid in the area between the Santa Barbara-Ventura County border and Oregon.
The California Department of Public Health has been monitoring the presence of domoic acid up and down the coast, and state Fish and Wildlife issued emergency orders earlier this month to close the rock crab fishery and delayed the beginning of Dungeness season. Bivalves remain off-limits in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.