Hawke's Bay residents are being warned not to collect shellfish for the next three weeks because of possible contamination with sewage during last week's flood event. Hawke's Bay Medical Officer of Health Dr Nick Jones said as a result, the coastline could be contaminated. Shellfish sewage contamination warning for Hawke's Bay after floodsShellfish such as mussels, oysters, cockles, and pipi were all filter feeders, meaning they constantly filtered seawater. "If sewage is present, shellfish will ingest and hold onto the bugs meaning people could get sick." The warning, in place until 7 December, allowed 28 days from the flood event for any sewage contamination to be rectified.

Source: Stuff November 18, 2020 05:03 UTC