January 6, 2023 3:50 p.m.

Friday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife closed all recreational crabbing – in the ocean, bays and estuaries – from Bandon to the California border.

A release from both agencies said ODA received additional test results showing domoic acid levels in crab sampled from this area are above the closure threshold. Testing areas for Dungeness are prioritized, and this new test result was unexpected.

These new results require recreational crabbing to be closed again along the south coast right after it was opened coastwide on Thursday.

Recreational bay clam and mussel harvesting remain open along the entire Oregon coast. However, razor clamming is still closed coastwide.

The release said ODA tests for shellfish toxins twice per month, as tides and weather permit. Sampling schedules sometimes are altered due to vessel availability, weather and other factors.

Reopening an area closed for biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish biotoxin safety hotline at 800-448-2474, or visit the ODA shellfish biotoxin closures webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery