Waikato widens warning on poisonous shellfish

Shellfish from the Waikato coast are laced with potentially fatal toxins and should not be harvested, a health official warned yesterday.

The limits of an existing health warning on the coast from south Taranaki to the Kaipara Harbour have been extended to include Raglan harbour.

Waikato District Health Board health protection officer David Cumming said shellfish samples taken at Raglan last week showed toxin levels high enough to trigger a public alert.

Tests showed a toxin which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) at levels of 101 micrograms per 100 grams of flesh. The limit is 80 micrograms.

Affected species include kina, mussels, scallops, catseyes or pupu, toheroa, pipi, tuatua, oysters and cockles. Officials have warned that cooking does not remove the toxin.

Paua, crab and crayfish can still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed before cooking.

Warning signs are being put up at boat ramps and shellfish accesses along the coast. The last such warning on Waikato's west coast was lifted in January 2001. It was issued in June 2000 and was caused by the same algae.

The algae earlier this year forced a warning, still in place, on the North Island's east coast between Whareongaonga (North of Mahia Peninsula) and East Cape.

Mr Cumming said regular monitoring of toxin levels at Raglan and Kawhia would continue.

- NZPA

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine