NSW: Three oyster areas closed, three more under a cloud

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NSW: Three oyster areas closed, three more under a cloud

SYDNEY, April 8 AAP - Sydney's oyster supply is under a cloud again today after theNSW government closed three harvest areas on the South Coast because of a toxic algaebloom.

Three more harvest areas were also under close examination, NSW Fisheries MinisterIan Macdonald said.

"Harvest areas of Wapengo Lake, Merimbula and Twofold Bay, have been closed after testingof water revealed high levels of contamination due to algal blooms," he said in a statement.

SafeFood NSW, the agency which licenses commercial shellfish harvesting, will continueto monitor the harvest areas, Mr Macdonald said.

Three other areas - at Nelson Bay, Bermagui and Pambula - were still open after beingtested last week, but more testing was scheduled for this week, he said.

Through the NSW Shellfish program, SafeFood NSW assesses the risk of shellfish contamination,controls harvest and addresses post-harvest contamination, saving more than $14 millionannually in public health costs, Mr Macdonald said.

AAP jph/hn/gl/jlw

KEYWORD: OYSTER