The California Department of Public Health is warning that potentially deadly levels of domoic acid have been found in Dungeness crab and rock crab caught along the coastline between Oregon and the southern border of Santa Barbara County. “Delaying or closing the season is disappointing,” said Craig Shuman, marine regional manager of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, which sets the dates for the season. On the mild side, toxic crabs can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache, according to public health officials who say the symptoms can persist for days. Short of that, the poisoning can also lead to permanent short-term memory loss, coma, seizures and other symptoms. The 600-boat commercial crabbing season is scheduled to begin Nov. 15, and crabbers have been pouring into the Bay Area from Alaska, Oregon and Washington hoping to earn half their annual income. “It’s going to be devastating” for the crabbers whose livelihood depends on this crucial time of the year, said Mike Dvorak, captain of the High Seas, a vessel big enough to collect 20,000 pounds of varied seafood in a single haul. Boat owners believe this summer’s warmer coastal water — 60-plus degrees on average, instead of the typical 54 degrees — is behind the toxic bloom. Health officials say symptoms of poisoning can appear up to 24 hours after someone has eaten toxic seafood, though no illnesses have been reported.

Source: Don’t eat Dungeness crab, California health department warns – SFGate