(BCN) -- It's safe to eat Dungeness crab meat taken from the waters of northern California after tests showed it no longer poses a health threat, state officials said Monday.

That clears recreational fishing for Dungeness crab in the waters of Humboldt and Del Norte counties, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.

However, commercial fishing is still suspended off Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties until Dec. 31, because of poor quality crab, the agency said.

Domoic acid, a natural toxin found in shellfish, can cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea, and in severe cases can bring on breathing complications, seizures, or death.

All sections of the California coast will be open for recreational harvesting of Dungeness crab, based on the recommendation of the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

Still, health officials strongly recommend that consumers avoid eating the crab's internal organs, also known as "butter," because they can hold higher levels of domoic acid than the meat.

The commercial Dungeness crab season has yet to open from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the Mexican border because of the risk of whales being entangled in fishing gear.

The original start date for the Dungeness crab fishing season was Nov. 2.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.