Akaroa, Canterbury
| Marlborough Sounds | |
|---|---|
| Reason for alert | Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) |
| Date warning issued | 15 December 2021
Media release: Public health warning about shellfish in Akaroa Harbour, Canterbury |
| Affected area | The entire Akaroa Harbour, extending to the outer heads. |
| Shellfish affected | Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish.
Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin. Pāua, crab, and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process. |
| Symptoms | Symptoms typically appear within half an hour of ingestion and last for about 24 hours and may include:
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| Other information | Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins have been detected in shellfish at levels above the safe limit of 0.16mg/kg set by MPI. Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly. |
Public warnings about toxic shellfish
We test shellfish and seawater for toxic algae every week from popular shellfish gathering areas around New Zealand. If the shellfish are not safe to eat, we issue public health warnings and put up signs at affected beaches.
FoodWorld 