Marine Biotoxin Alerts

North Island

Coromandel and Bay of Plenty coastline

The Health Protection Unit of Te Toi Ora – Public Health, advises people to avoid collecting or eating shellfish from a large area along the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty coastline.

The area includes the entire coastline from Tairua (including Tairua Harbour) south including Whiritoa, Whangamata, Onemana, and east along the Bay of Plenty coastline from Waihi beach, including Tauranga Harbour to the mouth of the Whakatane River in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Included are all inshore islands within the above area. The coastline eastward from Ohope beach is currently unaffected.

The health warning affects all bi-valve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops, catseyes and kina (sea urchin). Paua, crayfish and crabs can still be taken but the gut should be removed before cooking.

For further information contact Toi Te Ora Public Health: 0800 221 555 or visit www.toiteorapublichealth.govt.nz.

Hokianga Harbour

The Health Protection Unit of Northland District Health Board continues to advise people not to consume shellfish from the Hokianga Harbour. This public health warning has been issued due to the persistence of Microcystin Toxins above safe levels in shellfish.

Shellfish in the Hokianga Harbour were tested for Microcystins after a bloom of toxic Cyanobacteria occurred in Lake Omapere which drains into the Hokianga Harbour.

High levels of microcystins are frequently associated with the death of animals consuming contaminated water. Human deaths from consumption on microcystins have not been well reported but it is acutely toxic in animal studies and they are thought to cause liver damage in humans. Human fatalities have also occurred when water used for dialysis of patients with kidney failure has become contaminated.

For further information contact: Northland District Health Board (09) 430 4100

South Island

Port Underwood

The Marlborough Public Health Unit advises the public not to take or eat shellfish from Port Underwood.

The affected area is all of inner Port Underwood west of a line drawn from Robertsons Point.

Routine testing of shellfish in this area has shown higher than acceptable levels of the toxins that can cause Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP).

People are advised not to eat kina, mussels, pipis, tuatua, oysters and cockles harvested from affected areas since March 5, 2010. Paua, crab, and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut is completely removed prior to cooking.

For further information contact the Marlborough Public Health Unit on (03) 520-9999 or (03) 546 1800 Nelson.