California's recreational Dungeness crab season is set to open statewide this Saturday. But a health warning is in place for crabs caught in some areas.
Last year, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife delayed nearly the entire season over fears about elevated levels of domoic acid...and local crab stayed off many Thanksgiving tables.
"I heard it from a lot of friends and family members that I personally, even though it had nothing to do with me, was ruining their Thanksgiving," says Jordan Traverso with the department.
She says state health officials have determined that domoic acid is now at acceptable health levels in crab south of Point Reyes.
"North of that point it's been a little bit of sporadic detection," says Traverso. "So they're just recommending it as a precaution."
Recommending that people not eat the internal organs of crab caught north of Point Reyes. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin related to a “bloom” of certain single-celled algae.
Commercial crabbing season is expected to open on Nov. 15.
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