Dungeness Crab Season To Stay Closed Over Fears Of Domoic Acid Poisoning

SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has decided to keep the commercial Dungeness season closed until all or part of the coast is clear of the deadly toxin that has been found in some of the crabs.

Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham said fears of customers being poisoned by domoic acid outweighed the economic damage to the crabbing industry, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bonham said that Wednesday's decision will be reconsidered if state health officials determine that the toxin danger has ended either statewide or south of the Mendocino-Sonoma county line.

The California Department of Health announced last week that recreational fishing for Dungeness crabs was permitted south of Point Reyes. But they advised that diners should remove the guts and cook the crabs by steaming or boiling them and then discard the water used.

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