The paralytic shellfish toxin health warning, which has been in place since December 2011, has been lifted for the Bay of Plenty coastline.
The area for which the health warning is lifted includes the entire coastline from Waihi, east along the Bay of Plenty coastline, including Tauranga Harbour, Maketu and Waihi estuaries, to Pukehina. Also included are Matakana and Motiti islands, and all other inshore islands along this coastline.
Routine sampling indicates that the levels of shellfish toxin are now within safe limits for the entire Bay of Plenty coastline.
"This has been the longest continuous health warning that has been issued for shellfish toxin in the Bay of Plenty," said Dr Jim Miller, Medical Officer of Health.
Although paralytic shellfish toxin is no longer a concern when shellfish gathering, the public are reminded that there is always a need to exercise caution when deciding where to gather shellfish and when preparing shellfish for consumption.