Oil Spills & Seafood

OEHHA Emergency Response for Oil Spills and Seafood

• OEHHA is required to evaluate the potential public health risks associated with seafood consumption following oil spills into California waters.

• This task includes making recommendations on fisheries closure and re-opening to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

• If a closure is in effect for more than 48 hours, expedited testing of seafood is required before a fishery can be re-opened.

• OEHHA works closely with CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR).

• This fact sheet describes OEHHA’s and OSPR’s roles following marine oil spills.

OEHHA's Protocol for Seafood Risk Assessment to Support Fisheries Re-Opening Decisions for Marine Oil Spills in California

Joint OEHHA-OSPR Protocol for Seafood Sampling and Analysis to Support Fisheries Re-Opening Decisions Following Aquatic Oil Spills in California

Oil Spills Requiring Expedited Seafood Testing

• Refugio Beach Oil Spill Incident (Spill occurred May 19, 2015)
  Risk Assessment of Seafood Consumption Following the Refugio Beach Oil Spill Incident in Santa Barbara County, California

• Refugio Beach Oil Spill Incident (Spill occurred May 19, 2015)
  Refugio Beach Oil Spill Incident Fisheries Closure Chemical Testing Results

• F/V Royal Pacific (Spill occurred November 18, 2013)
  Risk Assessment of Seafood Following the F/V Royal Pacific Diesel Spill in Ventura Harbor, California

• T/V Dubai Star (Spill occurred October 30, 2009)
  Report on The Safety of Consuming Fish and Shellfish From Areas Impacted By The T/V Dubai Star Oil Spill In San Francisco Bay, California

• M/V Cosco Busan (Spill occurred November 7, 2007)
  Report on the Safety of Consuming Fish and Shellfish from Areas Impacted by the M/V Cosco Busan Oil Spill in San Francisco Bay, California

More information on OEHHA’s responses to Oil Spills Requiring Expedited Seafood Testing

• F/V Royal Pacific (Ventura Harbor)
  • Fish Consumption Advice following the November 18, 2013 Royal Pacific diesel spill in Ventura Harbor
    • Memorandum from OEHHA to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Recommending Re-opening
    • Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Declaration of Fisheries Re-opening
  • Amended Fish Consumption Advice following the November 18, 2013 Royal Pacific diesel spill in Ventura Harbor
    • Department of Fish and Wildlife’s amended Declaration of Fisheries Closure
  • OEHHA’s Fish Consumption Advice following the November 18, 2013 Royal Pacific diesel spill in Ventura Harbor
    • Memorandum from OEHHA to the Department of Fish and Wildlife
    • Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Declaration of Fisheries Closure
• T/V Dubai Star (San Francisco Bay)
  • Advice following the October 30, 2009 Dubai Star oil spill in SF Bay
    • Health Advisory: OEHHA rescinded the Ballena Boulevard Shoreline Mussel Advisory. OEHHA recommends that anglers follow the updated San Francisco Bay consumption advisory for fish and shellfish
    • Health Advisory: OEHHA recommends that sport harvesters not take or eat mussels from the bayside shoreline on the west and south sides of Ballena Boulevard and recommends that anglers should include mussels and other shellfish as they follow the existing San Francisco Bay and Delta region fish consumption advisory.
    • Reopening of Fishing Closure for Crown Memorial State Beach (OEHHA Memo)
  • Advisories following the October 30, 2009 Dubai Star oil spill in SF Bay
    • Partial Reopening of SF Bay Fishing
    • Fishing Closures Lifted for Most of Alameda Shoreline (Only One Beach Remains Closed to Harvesting)
    • Health Advisory: OEHHA recommends that sport harvesters not take or eat mussels from the bayside shoreline on the west and south sides of Ballena Boulevard
    • DFG's Updated and Amended Declaration of Closure Boundaries
  • Updated Fish Consumption Advice following the October 30, 2009 Dubai Star oil spill in SF Bay
    • Memorandum from OEHHA to Department of Fish and Game
    • Department of Fish and Game's Declaration of Fisheries Closure
  • OEHHA Fish Consumption Advice following the October 30, 2009 Dubai Star oil spill in SF Bay
    • Memorandum from OEHHA to Department of Fish and Game
    • Department of Fish and Game's Declaration of Fisheries Closure
• M/V Cosco Busan (San Francisco Bay)
  • Advice following the November 7, 2007 M/V Cosco Busan Oil Spill in SF Bay
    • Memorandum from OEHHA to Department of Fish and Game [March 13, 2008] rescinding the mussel advisory for Berkeley Marina and Rodeo Beach
      • Press Release: Governor Schwarzenegger Reopens Crab Season, Fishing in San Francisco Bay after oil spill
      • San Francisco Bay Oil Spill Health Questions and Answers
      • Press Release: Health and Safety Advisory: Fish Outside SF Bay OK, But Avoid Fish From Spill Area Until State's Safety Evaluation is Completed, Exercise Caution at Reopened Beaches

Documents

Oil Spills and Seafood Fact SheetMar 11, 2015

Risk Assessment of Seafood Consumption Following the Refugio Beach Oil Spill Incident in Santa Barbara County, CaliforniaDec 21, 2015

Refugio Beach Oil Spill Incident Fisheries Closure Chemical Testing ResultsJul 29, 2015

OEHHA's Protocol For Seafood Risk Assessment To Support Fisheries Re-Opening Decisions For Aquatic Oil Spills In CaliforniaMar 11, 2015

Protocol for Seafood Sampling and Analysis to Support Fisheries Re-Opening Decisions Following Aquatic Oil Spills in CaliforniaMar 18, 2020

Risk Assessment of Seafood Following the F/V Royal Pacific Diesel Spill in Ventura Harbor, CaliforniaMay 27, 2014

Safety of Consuming Fish and Shellfish From Areas Impacted By The T/V Dubai Star Oil Spill In San Francisco Bay, CAJun 9, 2011

Safety of Consuming Fish and Shellfish from Areas Impacted by the M/V Cosco Busan Oil Spill in San Francisco Bay, CaliforniaNov 29, 2007

Fisheries Reopening Recommendation, Ventura Harbor SpillJan 3, 2014

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Reopening Fisheries, Ventura Harbor SpillJan 3, 2014

California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Amended Declaration of Fisheries Closure, Ventura Harbor SpillNov 20, 2013

Fisheries Closure Recommendation, Ventura Harbor SpillNov 19, 2013

California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Declaration of Fisheries Closure, Ventura Harbor SpillNov 19, 2013

Ballena Boulevard WarningNov 25, 2009

Reopening of Fishing Closure for Crown Memorial State BeachDec 7, 2009

Partial Reopening of SF Bay FishingNov 25, 2009

Fishing Closures Lifted for Most of Alameda Shoreline (Only One Beach Remains Closed to Harvesting)Nov 25, 2009

DFG's Updated and Amended Declaration of Closure BoundariesNov 25, 2009

Memorandum from OEHHA to Department of Fish and GameNov 4, 2009

Department of Fish and Game's Declaration of Fisheries ClosureNov 4, 2009

Memorandum from OEHHA to Department of Fish and GameOct 30, 2009

Department of Fish and Game's Declaration of Fisheries ClosureOct 30, 2009

Memorandum from OEHHA to Department of Fish and GameMar 13, 2008