Mussels Shut Down on Majority of Oregon Coast Due to Biotoxin

Published 09/28/25 at 4:45 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon) – Gathering of mussels along most of the Oregon coast was shut down this week. (Photo ODFW)

Friday, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced an immediate closure of mussel harvesting from the Washington border to the north jetty of the Siuslaw River near Florence. The decision follows recent testing that revealed elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST), a naturally occurring marine biotoxin known to cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.

Officials are urging the public to check shellfish safety conditions before harvesting by calling the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visiting the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures webpage.

Current shellfish harvesting conditions vary along the Oregon coast. Mussel harvesting is closed from the Washington border to the north jetty of the Siuslaw River at Florence, and again from Cape Blanco near Port Orford to the California border. However, the stretch from the south jetty of the Siuslaw River to Cape Blanco remains open.

Newport - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Razor clam harvesting is closed from the Washington border to Tillamook Head due to the annual conservation closure, which is scheduled to lift on October 1. The area from Tillamook Head to Cape Blanco is open, while the southern stretch to California remains closed. Bay clams and crabs are open for recreational harvest coastwide.

The announcement comes in the wake of a significant shellfish poisoning event in May 2024, when more than 21 individuals fell ill after consuming mussels contaminated with PST. That incident, along with the detection of domoic acid in other species, prompted a widespread shutdown of recreational clamming and mussel harvesting across Oregon and parts of Washington, affecting even commercial operations for several months.

Cape Lookout - OPRD

Meanwhile, shellfish managers in Washington have released a tentative schedule for 47 razor clam digging days across four coastal beaches - Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks - spanning October 6 through January 6. These openings are subject to marine toxin testing conducted by the Washington State Department of Health. Beaches will only open if two separate test samples taken seven to ten days apart confirm domoic acid levels are below the state’s safety threshold.

For more information call ODA's shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at 503- 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits. MORE PHOTOS OF THE REGION BELOW

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