To look for life like urchins? Or urchins specifically to eat? Full Disclosure: I am not an expert on inter-tidal foraging. Here are my thoughts, but I do not

To look for life like urchins? Or urchins specifically to eat? Full Disclosure: I am not an expert on inter-tidal foraging. Here are my thoughts, but I do not know if they are correct. I have eaten purple urchins out of the Mission Bay channel, but I don't recommend it because they're just so small and, frankly, just not worth the effort. But I don't have any health concerns. I'm very reluctant to eat any bi-valve shellfish that I harvest myself for concerns over Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). I'm sure it can be done safely, but I am not knowledgeable enough to have self-confidence. I don't like the idea of eating filter-feeders (i.e. oysters) out of Mission Bay because of what they might be accumulating. Eating a scallop out of Mission Bay seems okay because the only part you eat is the muscle, not the whole digestive tract - but I still have the PSP concerns. If I find a legal lobster when the season opens, I'll eat that our of Mission Bay. Just looking for life itself, just to see and photograph - my two go-to spots are Mission Point Park and La Jolla Shores between the Marine Room and the cove. Mission Point is nice -- the protected cove feels safe, but the channel side is pretty exciting too. My wife and I are beginning to branch out to other parts of the bay. If you'd like to chat more, DM me on iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/people/dolfindave https://www.inaturalist.org/people/dolfindave