What is Wrong?

[Snookie]

We have a major problem in Orange County. We have not caught any halibut for weeks now. The bait is gone except for lizardfish. There are some surfperch on sand crabs or mussels. Have seen some medium mackerel on the end of pier. The pelicans are dying as well as the sea lions. Last week we had an enflux of dead Vellella Vellella that were all along the shore as well as in the water near shore. They had lost all their color. Never have I see them lose the blue color even when dead. I know the problem is Domoic Acid. My question is if we consume the fish that are there that are eating the stuff with the Domoic Acid are we in any danger of becoming ill because of this? Since the amount of Domoic Acid is 400 times the amount that it has been should we be eating the fish?

I don't know anyone with an answer to this yet.

Snookie

 

[TheFrood]

In the past I've seen warnings about not eating fish from areas that are hit by red tide. A quick google says that
you need to make sure not to nick the guts/innards/offal/organs. Other studies say that it's still risky. Myself, I
would avoid eating fish caught during a domoic acid incident unless there were no other choice.

https://news.wgcu.org/section/envir...-during-red-tide-outbreaks-we-asked-an-expert

 

[moonshine]

The California Department of Public Health has the task of monitoring water quality and blows the whistle if toxic levels rise above a certain level. I'd follow their observations, especially with toxic runoff that may end up in the water due to the recent fires.
Here's the description of what they do.

The California Department of Public Health(CDPH) coordinates a routine monitoring program along the California coast to sample mussels and other shellfish like clams and scallops for the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid toxins. Commercial shellfish harvesters are also required to provide weekly shellfish samples to CDPH for PSP toxin assay and domoic acid analysis. If toxin levels are high enough, warnings and quarantines are issued to protect the recreational fishing public and shellfish consumers.

 

[TheFrood]

The recent rain may be part of what's causing the problems... That's a good point. May not be DA at all but some other toxin from the fires washed into the sea by the rain last week...