Today, Scoop reported:
Update on the safety of shellfish collection - Bay of Plenty coastline and parts of Coromandel
The health warning advising against the collection and consumption of shellfish, kina, crabs and seaweed due to the oil spill from the MV Rena is no longer necessary and has been lifted by the Medical Officer of Health. However, recreational and traditional taking of shellfish in some parts of the coastline remains risky but now for a different reason. Routine sampling has now shown high levels of naturally occurring Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins from Tairua in the Coromandel to Rogers Road at Pukehina. Therefore, a new health warning is being issued advising against the collection or consumption of shellfish in these areas.
Oil related contamination
A shellfish monitoring programme, coordinated by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has shown that although some samples of shellfish from the most affected shoreline showed traces of hydrocarbon from the oil spill, this has been well below acceptable food safety levels. The amount detected has also fallen during the period since the last significant oiling events. Therefore there is now no appreciable food safety risk from the MV Rena oil spill.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin
People are advised not to collect or eat shellfish from anywhere along the coastline from Tairua in the Coromandel to Rogers Road at Pukehina until further notice.
“This health warning has been issued due to results that showed high levels of PSP toxins detected from shellfish samples taken in this area,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jim Miller.
The authorities expect people to believe that after New Zealand's worst marine oil spill with 23,240 Kilograms of Alkylsulphonic Acid, 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, 3500 litres of Corexit 9500 and an unknown amount of Cryolite plus whatever else they've failed to tell us about... we have an unrelated naturally occurring outbreak of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning that has made the shellfish toxic?
This is such a blatant lie I am almost lost for words.
