High levels of faecal contamination in three areas where people commonly gather
shellfish have triggered warnings not to eat shellfish from the New River Estuary or
Toetoes Harbour until fresh samples have been analysed.
The three sites are Mokomoko Inlet and Whaler's Bay in the New River Estuary and in
the Fortrose area of Toetoes Harbour.
Environment Southland routinely monitors water quality at popular shellfish
gathering sites.
Recent samples have shown E-coli levels that are higher than the
standards for safe consumption of shellfish. Water quality scientist Nick Ward said
that fresh samples have been taken to check whether the water continues to be
contaminated, but the analysis will take at least five days to be completed.
In the meantime, Medical Officer of Health Dr Derek Bell is cautioning people not to
gather shellfish from the two estuaries which have recorded high levels of E-coli.
The Invercargill City and Southland District Councils will be erecting signs warning
people not to gather shellfish there. "People need to take a cautious approach and
avoid gathering shellfish from those two estuaries until we have the latest
results," Dr Bell said.
Mr Ward said that without further investigation it was impossible to know whether
the high faecal coliform levels were from local sources or had been washed into the
estuaries from upstream after rain.
"These results are not unexpected, which is why we always advise people not to
gather shellfish for three to five days after heavy rain," Mr Ward said.
"These results are not unexpected."
That's unfortunate indeed.
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