The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have announced the reopening of recreational mussel harvesting from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border.

Shellfish samples taken last week indicate levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins have dropped below the alert level.

With the closure lifted, the entire Oregon Coast is now open to all recreational shellfish harvesting. ODA will continue to routinely test for shellfish toxins.

? For information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474, the Oregon Food Safety Division at (503) 986-4720 or log on to the Web site at (http://oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml)