Shellfish should not be collected from the Knysna Estuary in the Western Cape following evidence of a red tide, SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Monday (27/01/2014).
"Local expert, professor Brian Allanson of the Knysna Basin Project, is in touch with the department of forestry and fisheries to further analyse water samples," SANParks said.
A meeting to discuss findings would be held with scientists in Port Elizabeth and the results would be communicated to the public.
A red tide is the common name for an algal bloom involving large concentrations of red or brown-coloured micro organisms. These can become concentrated in filter feeders such as mussels and oysters, making them poisonous to humans.
Other types of shellfish, including perlemoen (abalone), are also affected. - Sapa
