Drop The Fishing Pole. Orange County Fish Still Not Safe To Eat

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The Orange County public is reminded to refrain from eating fish or seafood caught from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach, Laguna Beach south to Dana Point until further notice.

Since mid-October, all fishing has been canceled until state officials lift the fisheries closure declaration and complete offshore sampling of seafood safety.

Orange County Health Care Agency Director and County Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau shared the reminder Thursday in an effort to keep people from fishing from area beaches, piers and boats.

Currently, a fisheries closure remains in place, which prohibits the catch and consumption of any and all fish and shellfish within the area of the closure. Dana Point Whale Watching and Sport Fishing has suffered due to the closures, with business dropping 20 percent or more, according to Chief Operations Officer, Donna Kalez.

Read: Dana Wharf Sportfishing: Lady Angler, 82, Catches Big Tuna

Their four-hour and five-hour fishing trips have all but been halted, according to Kalez. How far do they have to go before fishing is safe, and what will happen to the marine life forced to swim in affected waters?

"We are very concerned about what will happen if this continues to drag on and on," she says.

For more information on fisheries closure and to view a closure map.

The first offshore sampling effort occurred October 28-30, in coordination with commercial fleet members.

A third onshore sample collection of mussels will be completed this week and could be analyzed depending on the results from the first two sampling efforts.

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment will analyze results from the sampling efforts, develop a risk assessment for seafood safety, and make a recommendation to the California Department of Wildlife to determine whether the fisheries closure could be lifted.

Based on analysis timelines and subsequent testing (if necessary), the earliest potential recommendation for re-opening would be the end of November, according to Chau.

Last month, water and sediment data received from Orange County samples showed there was no public health concern for short-term exposures from the use of beaches in the county. This would qualify as surfers, swimmers, and visitors playing at the waters' edge.

Shellfish, fish, marine life have experienced long-term exposure to toxins in the water due to the oil spill.

Please visit www.ocgov.com/news or your local city websites for the latest information regarding beach status in Orange County.

If anyone encounters oiled wildlife, please avoid contact and call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at (877) 823-6926.

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