Maine orders partial shellfishing shutdown, mussel recall

MACHIASPORT, Maine – Maine is shutting down shellfish harvesting in parts of the state’s eastern coast because of a marine algae bloom that can carry a neurotoxin.

The state Department of Marine Resources says it is monitoring the bloom, which carries domoic acid. Domoic acid can cause sickness, memory loss and brain damage in humans.

The agency said Friday it also is in the process of recalling mussels harvested from Frenchman Bay because of elevated levels of domoic acid.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/2y9Zdmn ) reports the department found levels of domoic acid that exceeded standards in shellfish tested between Mount Desert Island and Gouldsboro.

The department is enacting a precautionary closure from Deer Isle to Machiasport — almost a third of Maine’s coastline.