KEY POINTS:
Toxic shellfish have been found along the Bay of Plenty coastline from Mt Maunganui to the Rangitaiki River, between Matata and Whakatane.
Toi Te Ora-Public Health is advising people not to collect or eat shellfish from beaches or river mouths.
This advice follows high levels of paralytic shellfish poison being detected from water samples taken along the 75km stretch of coast.
Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack said there were water-testing sites all along the coastline with samples taken once a week.
"The one at Pukehina is particularly high, and the one at the Mount is getting higher."
Maungatapu Marae spokeswoman Wakata Kingi said boats went out at least once a week collecting shellfish, more often during a special occasion.
She said the warning was bad timing because of the opening of the rebuilt Te Whetu o te Rangi Marae tomorrow and Christmas next week.
However, there was a possibility shellfish could be brought in from the Coromandel or bought from shops.
The health warning affects all bivalve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops, catseyes and kina.
Paua, crayfish and crabs can still
be taken but, as always, the gut
should be removed before cooking.
"We're asking people not to eat the gut and skirt of scallops, even when these shellfish come from sites where there are no biotoxin warnings," said Dr Shoemack.
The poisoned shellfish were a natural phenomenon, more common in the warmer, summer months. Bay of Plenty Times
SYMPTOMS:
* Numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities.
* Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
* Dizziness.
* Double vision.
* In severe cases paralysis and respiratory failure.
* Symptoms can occur within 12 hours of consumption.
* Anyone suffering illness should contact a doctor.
See www.nzfsa.govt.nz for more info.
