Shellfish

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling oysters harvested from Puget Sound in December, citing possible norovirus contamination. It’s one of several recalls to impact the Pacific Northwest’s shellfish supply in the past month.

Many counties in Washington and Oregon have closed recreational shellfish harvesting with active toxic algal blooms in coastal waters that have also impacted commercial operations.

Limited shellfish harvesting is allowed again on parts of the Oregon Coast — but some species and some coastal areas are still off-limits.

European green crabs have established themselves as a formidable threat to local shellfish since appearing on Pacific Northwest shores in the late 1990s.

Washington regulators turn down shellfish growers' request to use pesticide on native shrimp.

The oceans off Oregon and Washington are ground zero for ocean acidification, and Northwest scientists are working on new ways to adapt.

Scientists predict that plastic in the ocean will eventually outweigh fish in the ocean. But how many of those plastics are ending up in our seafood, and where are they coming from?

OSU scientists have developed a way to predict spikes in domoic acid off the West Coast.  The toxin can accumulate in some seafood and be harmful to humans if consumed. 

The West Coast is experiencing the largest toxic algal bloom in the last decade. This toxin has caused many shellfish fisheries to close down.

Poachers are illegally harvesting and selling Puget Sound shellfish in back-alley deals. Detectives are on the case, trying to protect natural resources and public health.