/ 11 April 2008

W Coast aquaculture not at risk from shellfish poisoning

West Coast aquaculture farm products were never at risk from possible shellfish poisoning, the Environmental Affairs and Tourism Department said on Friday.

”The aquaculture industry is monitored separately through a Molluscan Shellfish Monitoring and Control Programme. As part of this programme regular tests are done, for instance for paralytic shellfish poisoning test are done every 48 hours.”

This followed a warning issued by the same department on Tuesday, indicating that West Coast shellfish, including mussels, oysters and perlemoen, should not be collected and eaten because they were toxic.

The department on Friday again advised that no wild shellfish should be collected or eaten on a ”recreational basis” on the West Coast until further notice.

Tests on perlemoen collected over the weekend at Melkbosstrand had revealed low levels of a toxin that caused paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by a microscopic aquatic organism taken up from the water by the shellfish. The first symptoms are a tingling, stinging or burning sensation of the lips, tongue and fingertips within 30 minutes of eating such shellfish.

The programme monitoring the aquaculture industry is managed by the department and implemented at all aquaculture farms, as it forms part of their permit conditions, it said. — Sapa