Good news for shellfish lovers in South Africa
The DFFE has issued a new update affecting certain shellfish harvested from a popular South African coastal area.
Black News 
Mussels and oysters from approved production areas in Saldanha Bay have now been cleared for human consumption after tests showed that toxin levels have fallen below the country’s regulatory safety limits.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said the latest monitoring results confirmed that paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) levels in shellfish from monitored areas within the Saldanha Bay Aquaculture Development Zone are now within safe limits.
This means shellfish from the approved areas may once again be harvested, marketed and consumed, provided they continue to meet the requirements of the official shellfish monitoring and control programme.
Shellfish can be harvested and sold
The department’s latest announcement provides the green light for mussels and oysters from the approved production areas, following monitoring of toxin levels.
The shellfish monitoring and control programme is carried out in line with both South African and international standards to ensure that seafood reaching consumers is safe.
The department stressed that shellfish must remain compliant with the official monitoring programme to be considered safe for harvesting and consumption.
What is PST?
Paralytic shellfish toxin refers to a group of naturally occurring toxins that can build up in seafood such as mussels and oysters when they feed on certain types of toxic algae.
The toxins can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) if contaminated shellfish are eaten. Symptoms can include tingling or numbness around the mouth and face, weakness, nausea and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing or paralysis.
Shellfish themselves are not necessarily harmed by the toxins, but they can accumulate them in their tissues, which is why regular monitoring is important.
Cooking or freezing contaminated shellfish also does not reliably destroy these toxins, making official monitoring and harvesting controls particularly important for protecting consumers.
Although current toxin levels have dropped below the regulatory limit, the department said monitoring will continue.
Officials will keep testing shellfish from the monitored production areas and will issue further advice if conditions change or toxin levels rise again.
Consumers are therefore advised to ensure that seafood they buy or consume comes from approved and monitored production areas and has been harvested in compliance with the official control programme.
