OYSTER and black mussel producers who mainly export to Asia have stopped harvesting and exporting since last week after routine tests revealed the delicacies were contaminated with ‘diarrhoeatic shellfish poisoning’ (DSP), which can make people very sick.
The fisheries ministry issued an alert last week, warning people not to eat oysters or mussels from Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.
Chief fisheries biologist Frikkie Botes said such spells of contamination, which is a seasonal occurrence – mainly during summer from October to April – result in the shellfish industry suffering economic losses.
FoodWorld 