The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the closure of recreational and commercial mussel harvesting from the south jetty of the Columbia River to Cascade Head, located north of Lincoln City. The closure is due to elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and includes mussels on all beaches, rocks, jetties, and bay entrances in this section of the Oregon Coast. Harvesting of mussels remains open south of Cascade Head to the California border. Paralytic shellfish toxin is produced by algae and usually originates in the ocean. ODA will continue to test for shellfish toxins weekly, as tides permit. Reopening of an area requires two consecutive tests in the safe range.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at <http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx>.