Warning about crabs

Patch: Health Warning Issued As Dungeness Crab Season Begins In Bay Area

The areas covered by the advisory include Point Reyes in Marin County south to Pillar Point in San Mateo County.
BAY AREA, CA — The recreational Dungeness crab season started Saturday in California, but it came with a warning. The start of commercial crab season, meanwhile, will likely be delayed.

The California Department of Public Health advises people catching crab recreationally not to consume the viscera (internal organs or guts) of crab caught in two coastal areas due to the presence of domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin.

The areas covered by the advisory are Point Reyes in Marin County south to Pillar Point in San Mateo County, and Shelter Cove in Humboldt County south to Point Arena in Mendocino County.

Low levels of domoic acid can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness. Higher levels can cause short-term memory loss, seizures and death.

"Please remember to eviscerate any crab caught in these regions prior to cooking" to lower the risk of poisoning, the department said.

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