Port dickson: Laboratory tests on the second sample conducted by the Kuala Lumpur Fisheries Biosecurity Centre (PBPKL) on Tuesday on mussels and shellfish in Port Dickson waters found that the biotoxin reading was still above 800 parts per billion (ppb). Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department (JPNS) director Kasim Tawe said therefore the seafood is still unsafe as it could cause health problems and the ban on eating it is still in force.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the samples taken on Tuesday at two locations, namely in the waters of Kampung Teluk and Sungai Sekawang, showed biotoxin readings still above the limit. The third sample will be taken next week. Kasim Tawe stated that JPNS will continue to take samples and monitor the situation weekly until the biotoxin level is lower than the permitted level.

He reiterated the warning for the public to refrain from collecting, taking, or harvesting shellfish in the affected waters. The Telok Kemang Area Fishermen's Association had previously announced a ban on the sale and harvesting of shellfish from Port Dickson waters due to a suspected algal bloom in Pasir Panjang waters.

Additionally, Kasim instructed operators and farmers using the mussel stake and cage system from Sungai Sekawang to Tanjung Teluk, Pasir Panjang to temporarily halt all activities involving shellfish from Port Dickson waters. The ban will remain until JPNS completes their investigation, and the public is advised against consuming shellfish from these areas to prevent food poisoning risks.

The decision follows findings from the Technical Committee Meeting on the harmful algal bloom (HAB) case in Port Dickson waters. The committee found that mussel samples taken on August 6 and August 12 contained paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin levels exceeding the permitted parameter of 800 ppb.