People warned not to eat toxic shellfish in Marlborough Sounds
People are being warned not to collect or eat any shellfish from areas of the Marlborough Sounds due to toxins.
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has found unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish toxin during routine testing on mussels in Canoe Bay.
The warning extends from Tennyson Inlet to Fitzroy Bay and includes shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes) and Cook’s turban.
Symptoms of poisoning include numbness and tingling, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, paralysis and, in extreme cases, death.
NZFS has advised that cooking the sea life does not remove the poisons and said while kina and finfish were not affected, people have been advised to gut and discard the liver before cooking.
An algae bloom named Gymnodinium catenatum, known to produce dangerous toxins, was being monitored in the region.
There had been no reported cases of associated illness so far.
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeart app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeart is easy to use and all FREE
