Oyster Fest Coming Up...
but what about those oysters?
How timely that announcements for Arcata's upcoming Oyster Festival are starting to pop up and someone writes in to the Eureka Reporter asking what I've asked a few times here: Just how safe are Humboldt oysters to eat?
Maybe someone in the know will see that letter and let us know?
But, in another timely coincidence, also in the Eureka Reporter today, is a story on oysters that includes the following statement: " The occasional exception occurs during rainy periods, when state-mandated water samples might deem oysters unsuitable for harvest, a regulation Humboldt Bay Oyster Co. owner Todd Van Herpe said ensures oyster quality".
Followed with this, "Areas we grow them on have to be certified for an edible product. We have to assume people will be eating them raw,” Van Herpe said.".
So, that would suggest that the oysters are ok since the water is tested occasionally.
Has anyone tested the actual oysters, though?
posted by Fred Mangels @ 9:05 AM
39 comments
39 Comments:
Do you think one of the newspapers is going to find sources willing to go on the record about toxicity of local oysters? There is too much money on the line for someone of authority to make a statement like that.
He or she would be strung up and drug by a horse out of town.
EPA's "monthly fish consumption limits for dioxins/furans" (an associated substance). That limit, meant to identify an acceptable cancer risk, recommends against ingesting more than 1.2 parts per trillion of dioxin per month from eating fish. Most of the oyster samples that were analyzed from Humboldt Bay contained dixoin at levels in excess of this standard.
I wouldn't eat more than one or two oysters. And I certainly would not have children or any women intending to birth children eat a single one. Thats an honest to god recommendation. Dioxin is extremely dangerous.
why are the seals and marine mammals not washing up on the shore if this is the case
It is shocking how few marine mammals live in Humboldt Bay. Just compare it to San Francisco Bay which you would think would be more polluted, yet has seals and all kinds of ocean beasts all over the place.
248, source and cite please...
SF Bay, btw, is a lot bigger than Humboldt Bay, is it not?
Looks like Sterling-Nichols isn't worried about dioxins in the oysters, nor is he warning the festival not to serve them up 12:58. Guess you are gonna skip the festival?
Guess this also means that the BAykeeper only thinks that the so called contamination is bad dependent upon what he needs to accomplish. Eee gads, how hypocritical.
Well, can you point out any docks anywhere here that get taken over by sea marmots? Cuz theres at least one dock down by pier 39 that is full of them. I barely see these creatures up here where I live but I see them plying the waters every time I'm down in the bay area. I don't think you need a study to tell you sea mammals are just not very prevelant in Humboldt bay. Whether thats because of Dioxin, I don't know.
Thats the whole point. The bay was declared impaired because of Dioxin. Dioxin is toxic in extremely small amounts, such as parts per trillion. If the bay is dioxin impaired, one of the first things that would be contaminated would be Oysters, which are filters. So, either the Oysters are safe, and the Dioxin contamination problem is overstated or doesn't exist... Or there is a dioxin problem and the oysters are dangerous. Personally, I would err on the side of caution, but thats because I know how toxic Dioxin is in very small amounts.
One more time:
EPA's "monthly fish consumption limits for dioxins/furans" (an associated substance). That limit, meant to identify an acceptable cancer risk, recommends against ingesting more than 1.2 parts per trillion of dioxin per month from eating fish. Most of the oyster samples that were analyzed from Humboldt Bay contained dixoin at levels in excess of this standard.
I found it interesting that KHUM produced their Oyster festival ad to say that Humboldt Bay oysters were hung in sacks from posts so there was no need for destructive dredging. That's the first time I've ever heard a political statement of that nature to promote the Oyster Festival.
C'mon in folks, the waters fine.
Sounds like the festival organizers are spinning it to ward off any backlash from the Baykeeper folks.
Don't eat 'em myself. Nothing to worry about here.
7:37 you are full of crap. Your crap is of much more concern to this public than the very low levels of dioxin in a view locations. The truth doesn't lie like your propoganda does. Didn't someone from baykeepers just say that he'd be eating oysters just like always at Arcata's festival.
"There is too much money on the line for someone of authority to make a statement like that."
A clear example of one of the serious problems with the capitalist free market system.
Since dioxin at these levels causes cancer and birth defects, you don't die from it immediately. Like cigarette smoking, it will cut years off your life. And you get to spend those last years suffering with cancer. So you die at 70 from cancer instead of 85 from old age. Its not how many marine mammals you see, but how old that are and how many born with birth defects that counts.
Someone once said its difficult to make someone understand something that his livelihood depends upon his not understanding. Or, its hard to wake up someone who's pretending to be asleep.
12:29 your as full of shit as a Christms goose. There is no dioxin problem with our fish,crab,or oysters. There is some trace dioxin in the bay which will be dealt with in a responsible way if you radicals will stay away. If the problem was as you say all of us 60,70 yrs.+ locals would be dieing in mass from cancer. Ain't happening. You are a fear merchant. Look at who's pocket book is getting full from your lies. Eat oysters,celebrate the bay and enjoy life.
What I want to know is who covered up all of Humboldt Baykeepers signs with the improved and now legal sticker removing Humboldt Baykeeper's phone number as the point of contact for illegal doings?
better yet, who paid for it?
Turn on your scanners. Dead body found in Arcata Community Forest. Has anyone heard from Bravo lately?
I used to harvest and eat raw oysters, but won't eat them from Humboldt Bay, not just because of the potential of consuming dioxins, but because I fear the nuclear reactors could be leaching into the bay. That is my opinion.
The nuclear reactors have been shut down for over two decades, Carol. There is no problem there.
I guess I should have specified, "reactoR", minus the S.
I suspect Carol is referring to the spent fuel rods.
I know that. They are contained.
"I found it interesting that KHUM produced their Oyster festival ad to say that Humboldt Bay oysters were hung in sacks from posts so there was no need for destructive dredging. That's the first time I've ever heard a political statement of that nature to promote the Oyster Festival."
This is not political. It refers to the old way of growing and then harvesting oyster off the bottom that caused damage to eel grass beds. Nothing to do with dioxins.
Also, the reason you don't find significant amounts of Dioxin in oysters is because it is not in the water. It is in the sediment. Dioxin is hydrophobic, meaning it clings to solids. It does not dissolve easily in water. Fish can get dioxin if they eat worms and things that live in the mud.
Your risk from cholesterol in the oysters is far greater than dioxin.
Fred is now a Nuclear Engineer! Sad you never stuck to any one career Fred, I'm sure you would be a good representative for the nuclear energy industry.
My God Carol you leave me shaking my head. My 3 yr. old makes more sence than what you just said.
More importantly, Anon.R - how did Humboldt MoneyGrubbers, I mean "Baykeeper" get the signs put up with their name and phone number, their corporate identity program/branding, their corporate colors, their logo, etc in the first place - on County property, and ONLY in the areas they deemed significant? They were using it to generate "complaints" that they could then use to fuel their lawsuits. Who approved that in the first place.
And for all Humboldt County small businesses, who can't afford a professionally produced corporate identity program, much less the slick mailers, corporate-branded "gear" and a new Boston Whaler, think about the kind of money these guys have access to and where it comes from, while you struggle to make ends meet.
Then they come to you for "donations" crying poor. They don't need your money. They have plenty.
Yeah! Rose knows their finances! She's looked at their books! Yeah! Right? Right?? Suuuuure.
If you want to stop giving money to an organization, stop giving to the uber-wealthy American Cancer Society. Quite a nifty volunteer network they have going on there. Look at the national organization's board members. Look at the types of issues they fight. Umm, see a connection? Not my money. No more.
Oof, perhaps I should have written: look at the types of issues they do NOT fight.
You tell me when "Baykeeper" and the predatory litigious parent "ERF" open their books.
The Madaket needs money. It is a legitimate business.
"Baykeeper" does not need your donations. They get money by threatening lawsuits and walking away with settlement "go-away" money. It's easier and cleaner than robbing a bank.
Rose, Rose, Rose... you beat this subject to death before and no one gave a shit.
10:13,(Richard) Lots of us care. Over time, as the public becomes more and more aware of the green mafia out there, there will be a backlash against this crap.
Yes, you just wonder what will happen when the good ole boys stop playing nice and start running you green wieners out of town.
Has nothing to do with good old boys. It has to do with good, well-intentioned people realizing they are being played, and used, getting fed up with the dishonesty. That crosses all spectrums.
10:13 we all give a shit. You just wish we didn't. Go piss down someone elses leg.
You got that right, 6:26. It's amazing who is paying attention to this issue.
It was so sad. The Oyster Festival was a total flop this year. Everyone stayed home because of the dioxin scare.
I sure hope those rascals don't try to bad mouth and possibly shut down the Humboldt County Fair because of the great amount of methane leaking from the cows in the Ferndale bottoms.
I tell you, Humboldt County is a timebomb ready to explode.
That sucks. I believe Bohemian Mermaid paid something like $270 to have a booth there. She lost money.
Whatever.
I don't know about the dioxins (nor do I have the patience to read all of the anonymous blather)... But there had to be at least 10,000 people at the festival. It was beyond packed.
I didn't lose money at all.
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