Shellfish enthusiasts take note. Oregon's coastline has turned into a no-go zone for mussel harvesting, and if you're into clams, you'll need to check your maps before planning your next dig. The state's Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fish and Wildlife have slapped a clammy hand down, shutting down mussel harvesting along every sandy inch of the coast due to perilous levels of marine biotoxins. Not to be outdone, razor clams and bay clams are also off the table for large stretches, according to a report by KGW.

This biotoxin business is serious stuff - it's behind paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which has already laid low at least 20 people after they slurped down mussels from suspect spots like Short Beach and Hug Point. Surprisingly, with symptoms including mouth numbness, nausea, and potentially even heart irregularities, the Oregon Health Authority reported that there have been no fatalities yet, as per KPTV.

While mussels are wholly off-limits, clamming closures vary like a patchwork from the Washington border down to the California line. Razor clamming has been axed from Yachats southward, thanks to a duo of toxins that includes the ominous domoic acid, but you can still try your luck from Yachats all the way up to the neighborhood of our northern neighbors. It seems that unruly toxins respect the arbitrary lines we draw on maps, keeping crab harvesting safe and open for business along the coast as noted by KATU.

Meanwhile, for those catering to the oyster aficionados, commercial gatherings in Netarts and Tillamook bays are on pause. Peering through their microscopes twice a month, the Oregon Department of Agriculture promises to keep tabs on just how toxic our potential dinners are. For shellfish spots to reopen, they demand two consecutive tests showing levels of biotoxins have dwindled below their danger threshold. It remains yet another game of wait-and-see for seafood suppliers and enthusiasts alike.

If you've tossed back some suspect shellfish and start feeling numb around the kissers—or worse, find breathing a bit of a chore—the health authorities urge you to call the Oregon Poison Center at 800-222-1222, or better yet, dial up your nearest healthcare provider, pronto. Here's to hoping that our coastal waters yield less toxic threats sooner rather than later.