CDPH Lifts Warnings about Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Monterey County

October 12, 2026

SN26-021

What You Need to Know: CDPH has removed the warning that advised against eating recreationally harvested bivalve shellfish from the waters of Monterey County. The annual mussel quarantine for recreationally harvested mussels along the entire California coast remains in effect.​​

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

The safety notification for Monterey County was issued on September 14, 2026 , due to dangerous levels of domoic acid in mussels. Domoic acid is a marine biotoxin that can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). ASP can cause illness or death in humans. Recent testing shows domoic acid has decreased to safe levels in bivalve shellfish in this area.

While this warning for clams, scallops and oysters in Monterey 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 and for Del Norte 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 .​