Warning over toxic seafood from Swan River

THE Department of Health has renewed their warning for people not to eat fish, crabs or shellfish collected from within a section the Swan River.

The Department issued a warning late last year, and have reiterated the seriousness of consuming seafood from the river.

The warning zone extends from Pelican Point to Como Jetty and upstream to Tonkin Highway Bridge.

This area includes the commonly known areas of Matilda Bay, Perth Waters, Elizabeth Quay, Barrack Street Jetty, Claisebrook Cove, Maylands Yacht Club, Ascot Waters and Riverside Gardens.

The warning follows recent testing which has confirmed potentially toxic microscopic algae at elevated levels.

The algae, ‘alexandruim spp’, can produce a type of poisoning known as paralytic shellfish poisoning, and cooking will not destroy the toxins.