This has come up a time or two so here are the links to redtide alerts from the Oregon Department of Agriculture Website.
This link is for food safety warnings, alerts, advisories, and closures:
http://www.oda.state.or.us/ODA/alerts.lasso
Click on the link under types and here is what you get:"June 1, 2001...The Oregon Department of Agriculture is reopening recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting on Clatsop County ocean beaches affected by a domoic acid closure that began March 30, 2001. The northern closure had extended from the Columbia River jetties to the south end of Clatsop County at Arch Cape. Currently portions of Lincoln County beaches are closed, from Yaquina Head at Newport, to the south side of Alsea Bay, at Waldport. This closure continues as levels of domoic acid remain elevated above the alert level. No clam harvesting is allowed from the beaches, along these closed portions of Lincoln County. Shoreline or ocean caught scallops are also affected by this domoic acid closure. Recreational divers should eat only the muscle meat and not the other portions of the scallop. All bays in the closed area are open except for the jetties at the entrances. Eating shellfish contaminated with domoic acid can cause minor to severe illness within minutes to hours after consumption. In mild cases, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache. In more serious cases, symptoms may include permanent loss of short-term memory, excessive bronchial secretions, difficulty breathing, coma, and even death. The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking or adding baking soda, or any other method. Commercial oysters and clams are sampled directly and products on the market are safe. Shellfish toxin blooms events are produced by algae and usually originate in the ocean. Changing ocean temperatures, currents and nutrient upwelling are thought to have an effect on these harmful algae blooms. ODA will continue monitoring and testing shellfish for domoic acid and PSP at as many as 23 sites. Reopening of a closed area requires two sets of samples below the toxin alert level. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife states that harvesters should be aware there is a record low abundance of large clams available and digging will be poor. There is a large set of juvenile clams on the beach, the first noticeable set since 1997. The juvenile clams range from .75 to 2.5 inches and will grow up to 3.5 inches their first year. These juvenile clams are the potential harvest for this fall and next spring. The potential for wastage is very high from diggers illegally returning small clams, with a mortality of 80%. Harvesters should be reminded that they must retain the first 15 clams dug, regardless of size or condition per ODF & W regulations. For more information, call ODA's shellfish line (503) 986-4728, Food Safety Division (503) 986-4720, or the ODA web page (
www.oda.state.or.us) for Warnings and Alerts. "
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Claming and redtide alerts
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