Shellfish warning - West Coromandel

A public health warning about collecting or eating shellfish has been issued for the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsular because of a marine bio-toxin.

The warning affects the coast between the east bank of the Waihou River and north to Wilson Bay on the Thames Coast.

Routine testing on shellfish samples have shown levels of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) above the Ministry of Health's safe limit.

Symptoms of DSP include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain and usually occur within 12 to 24 hours of consuming shellfish.

The ban also applies to the Firth of Thames marine farming area but doesn't affect other marine farms in the Coromandel.