Commerical Dungeness crab season is opening with restrictions due to elevated levels of toxins.
State officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife say the commercial season will open November 15 except for points north of Point Reyes in Marin County due to elevated levels of domoic acid.
The toxin is found in shellfish that have consumed a certain type of algae. People can get shellfish poisoning if they eat contaminated crabs.
Jordan Traverso is spokeswoman for California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"We're going to continue testing. We're going to continue coordinating with the California Department of Public Health to continue testing until the domoic acid levels dissipate."
There is also a warning for recreational crabbers whose season opened last Saturday. They are free to catch crabs, but they need to remove the internal organs before cooking and eating them.
Last year, the Dungeness crab season was delayed for months by elevated levels of domoic acid, meaning local crab stayed off many Thanksgiving tables.
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