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The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has removed the health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish in the Whangaparaoa region due to marine biotoxins from toxic algae.
The ban, which was put in place locally on June 3, was lifted on July 21.
The Ministry says that test results, following extensive sampling of shellfish along this coastline, show that Paralytic Shellfish Toxins are no longer at levels of concern to public health.
Warning signs have been taken down. However, the warning for the Bay of Plenty region remains current and the public is advised not to collect shellfish from that region, where the latest testing of shellfish show the levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin are now climbing to potentially harmful levels.
The Bay of Plenty warning extends from the mouth of the Otahu River at the southern end of Whangamata Beach, southwards all the way down to the Whakatane Heads.
It includes Tauranga Harbour, Maketu and Waihi estuaries, Matakana and Motiti Islands, and all other islands along this coastline.
A map of the area covered by the current warning can be found at www.mpi.govt.nz/shellfish
