Hawke’s Bay coastline OK for shellfish collection

Entire Hawke’s Bay coastline now open for shellfish collection

The Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is pleased to advise that the entire Hawke’s Bay coastline, from Cape Turnagain in the south to Whareongaonga in the north, is now opened for the collection of shellfish for consumption.

The coastline from Cape Kidnappers in south to Whareongaonga (approximately 22 kilometres north of Mahia) has been closed for the collection of shellfish from mid May this year until today due to the presence of the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin in the shellfish at levels above the Ministry of Health’s Safe Health Limit.

Please note that some other sections of the New Zealand coastline remain closed for the collection of shellfish for consumption. This opening refers to the Hawke’s Bay coastline only. Information on other closed areas around the country can be found on www.nzfsa.govt.nz On-going routine sampling of sea-water and mussels will continue at the Napier, and Northern and Southern Hawke’s Bay sites as part of the Ministry of Health’s Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Programme.

During the closure no cases of Toxic Shellfish Poisoning were reported to the Public Health Unit from the public, or by doctors. The symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning can be very serious, and life threatening in some circumstances. Information on the closure event is also posted on the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s web site www.healthinhawkesbay.co.nz in the Public Health Unit’s area of the site.

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