New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) has issued an alert on the risk of Marine contamination by shellfish toxins.  

MPI New Zealand advises consumers not to collect and eat shellfish from Crail Bay, which is owned by the Marlborough Sounds.  The content of paralytic shellfish toxin in the tested shellfish was higher than the safety limit of 0.8mg/kg, and there was a risk of consumption.  The affected areas are shown below:  

Affected shellfish include mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, sea urchins (kina) and all other bivalve shellfish.  

MPI warns that symptoms of shellfish poisoning include headache, diarrhoea, breathing and swallowing difficulty, nausea, numbness and even death in severe cases.  Consumers should call a health hotline or seek medical attention if they show symptoms of poisoning.  

MPI will continue to monitor shellfish toxin levels in the area and update information as it becomes available.