Hawkes Bay shellfish cleared

The entire Hawkes Bay coastline is open again for shellfish collection, says the District Health Board.

The coast was closed for shellfish collection and eating early last month because the paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin was at levels above the New Zealand Food Safety Authority's limit.

The toxin had closed the coastline for three to four months from mid-May in the past three years, the board said.

"This year it appears to have left early."

No cases of people falling sick with toxic shellfish poisoning had been reported during this year's closure.