The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has lifted all restrictions on sardine fishing in Southern California, announcing that the fish are once again safe for human consumption.
The move follows a health advisory issued earlier this year after elevated levels of domoic acid—a naturally occurring neurotoxin produced by marine algae—were detected in sardines harvested between Point Conception and the Mexico border. In response, CDFW had limited both commercial and recreational sardine harvests in the region to live bait use only.
On 13 June, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), in consultation with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), confirmed that domoic acid concentrations had dropped below the federal action threshold, clearing the way for the resumption of full harvest activities.
“Consumption of Pacific sardine from the affected area no longer poses a significant human health risk due to elevated levels of domoic acid,” CDFW Director Charlton Bonham stated in a memo lifting the restrictions.
The bloom was initially linked to a surge in marine mammal strandings in March, which prompted broader health advisories, including warnings about bivalve consumption. State officials now report that environmental conditions have improved, with a notable decline in strandings and harmful algal activity.
The reopening of the fishery is expected to benefit Southern California’s coastal fishing communities and seafood markets, which had faced economic impacts from the temporary restrictions.