Taranaki Coastline Biotoxin Alert

9 October 2017

A public health warning has been issued for shellfish collected across much of the Taranaki coastline.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) issued a warning on Friday advising people to avoid eating shellfish gathered between Oākura, North Taranaki, and Awakino.

Anyone who consumes kina, mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops and catseyes from the area risks becoming sick. 

PSP is a serious illness caused by eating shellfish contaminated with algae that produce harmful toxins.

Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and three hours after eating and could include numbness and a tingling around the mouth, face, and hands and feet. It could also cause difficulty swallowing or breathing, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.

MPI has advised if anyone becomes sick after eating shellfish from the affected area to phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately.

Further information can be found on the MPI website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/fishing/shellfish-biotoxin-alerts/

OR you can email MPI at: info@mpi.govt.nz

Last updated: Monday, October 9, 2017