Question: Yesterday we collected a few mussels at low tide at Chicken Ranch Beach with the kids (past the Inverness Yacht Club). They are of a decent size, about 3 to 4 inches, and all black. Are they safe to eat?

Answer: Don't eat those mussels! There is currently an advisory out against consuming sport-taken shellfish in Marin County - please see www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR13-009.aspx . A great Q&A about mussel quarantines is located at www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/MusselQuarantineFAQ.aspx . The California Department of Public Health shellfish biotoxin information line is (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133 - you can check with them at any time to see whether there are advisories in effect for your area. And finally, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) posts advisories on the CDFW website at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/healthadvisory.asp.