A health warning has been issued for the Bay of Plenty coastline, from Mount Maunganui, including Maunganui Beach and Pilot Bay, to the Whakatane Heads.
Routine monitoring within this area has found increased levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin in shellfish samples while water samples have shown increased levels of the algae that produce the PSP toxin, Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service Medical Officer of Health Dr Neil de Wet said.
"Levels of toxin found in shellfish from this area are now above a safe level.
"With the better weather and holidays approaching, I would like to advise residents and visitors to the Bay of Plenty that there is now a health warning in place and signage will be erected in the affected area," he said.
Dr de Wet strongly advises against the collection of shellfish from Mount Maunganui and along the Bay of Plenty coast to Whakatane Heads in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The warning includes all islands and estuaries along this part of the coastline.
The health warning applies to all bi-valve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops as well as cat's eyes, snails and kina (sea urchin).