A fresh alert has been issued over collecting and eating toxic shellfish from beaches along Northland's west coast.
The Northland District Health Board public health unit is advising the public not to gather shellfish from beaches between Omapere on the Hokianga Harbour to Pouto at the entrance of the Kaipara Harbour.
It says shellfish collected within the area have shown the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins.
Symptoms include numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities, difficulty swallowing and breathing, dizziness and double vision.
In severe cases, paralysis and respiratory failure can occur within 12 hours of consuming shellfish.
