DATE:

CONTACT:

Oct. 30, 2009

Sam Delson, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 916-764-0955

Carol Singleton, Department of Fish and Game, 916-539-6124

U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs, 415-748-0112

Alameda, Calif. - In response to today's San Francisco Bay oil spill, the California Department of Fish and Game, upon recommendation of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), has suspended fishing and shellfish harvesting in the areas affected by the oil. The suspension will remain in effect at least until state health officials have determined that fishing can be reopened.  

Closure areas include the Alameda County shoreline between the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the San Mateo Bridge. In addition, OEHHA is advising that fishers avoid fishing in areas where there is a visible sheen. 

OEHHA is the science arm of the California Environmental Protection Agency and is working with the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), the Department of Public Health and other agencies to conduct the fish safety evaluation. 

"Protecting the public's health is our top priority," said OEHHA Director Joan Denton. "It's a good idea to avoid any fish from the spill area until further notice." 

OEHHA's safety guidelines call for avoiding consumption of any fish or shellfish from the spill area until analysis of the collected samples is completed. Visible oil or oily smell are obvious indications of contamination, but fish and shellfish from the spill area could still pose a potential risk even if there are no visible signs of contamination. 

Fish and shellfish caught from waters outside the spill area remain as safe to eat as before the spill, but marine life from the spill area should be avoided until the evaluation of its safety is completed.