April 23, 2010 – In its news release today, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced that it had temporarily closed most Texas coastal waters to the harvesting of oysters, clams, and mussels due to an algal bloom.
This closure is of importance to persons in the Houston area who are in any way involved in harvesting shellfish in the bays and along the Texas coast.
The affected area extends along the Texas coast from Galveston to Port Aransas. DSHS stated that both commercial and recreational harvesters should not harvest shellfish from closed areas along the coast.
Algal blooms come about when microscopic algae undergo accelerated growth in water so as to form visible patches. This particular algal bloom is of the algae, Dinophysis. The DSHS found elevated levels of Dinophysis entering bays from offshore waters, and this is where Texas oysters are harvested.
Although DSHS knows of no health issues associated with humans being themselves in waters containing the algae, Dinophysis produces the toxin, okadaic acid that accumulates in shellfish tissues. Eating toxin-contaminated shellfish causes diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in people who eat them. DSP symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and cramping. DSP is ordinarily not life threatening nor does it cause long-term ill effects. As of now, the department is unaware of any illnesses yet associated with this current algal bloom.
Note that cooking does not destroy the toxin, and the toxin does not affect seafood other than shellfish such as shrimp and crab.
The public oyster season in Texas ends on April 30, 2010. If there is no closure in effect, harvesting of oysters from private oyster leases in Galveston Bay is permitted year round. Harvesters should check on the status of closure of harvest areas with a phone call to DSHS at 800-685-0361.
Until the closure to harvesting order is removed, there should be no harvesting in public waters or from private leases until further notice from DSHS.
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