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Health officials say dangerous levels of domoic acid in crab

Domoic acid is naturally occurring toxin that can't be cleaned or cooked away

Domoic acid poisoning causes dizziness, vomiting, and in severe cases, death

CNN  — 

California sport crab fishermen will have to put away their traps for now.

Dungeness and rock crabs caught in those waters pose a “significant risk to the public if consumed,” the California Department of Public Health said in a statement.

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced from “some species of the marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia,” the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

A massive bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia, brought by warmer water temperatures associated with the El Nino event, is causing high levels of the acid.

Marine animals, such as crabs, that filter their food through seawater may accumulate the toxins. While the toxins, which are colorless and odorless, don’t seem to harm these animals, people who eat this seafood may become poisoned.

Neither cleaning nor cooking these foods will rid them of the harmful acid.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning typically begin within 30 minutes to 24 hours of eating toxic seafood, the health department said. They include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, dizziness and confusion.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has yet to rule on the status of commercial Dungeness crab season, which barring postponement, will begin November 15.

Some survivors of severe cases of domoic acid poisoning have been known to suffer permanent loss of short-term memory, officials said.

The health department became aware of the dangerous levels during routine seafood testing and issued an advisory alerting the public.

The California Fish and Game Commission will hold an emergency meeting Thursday to determine whether to delay the opening of recreational Dungeness crab season, scheduled to begin November 7.

Taking into consideration the commission’s decision, along with the recommendations from the health department and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the fish and wildlife department will rule on the status of commercial Dungeness crab season.

Jordan Traverso of the department said the last thing her department wants is to have to delay or close the season, but says “our main priority is to keep people from getting sick.”

Commercial Dungeness crab fishing is expected to start November 15. Rock crab can be harvested year-round.