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| Recreational harvest of shellfish
Fast facts
- Shellfish are filter feeders and they sometimes accumulate harmful substances from the water they filter during feeding.
- Shellfish collected by recreational fishers should never be eaten raw.
- You are not allowed to collect pipis for human consumption.
- If you do collect other shellfish for eating, never collect them after rainfall, from water affected by algae blooms or if the area is closed by a NSW Fisheries
- Boiling will not kill biotoxins already in shellfish
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What are Shellfish?
Seafood such as oysters, mussels, pipis and cockles are sometimes referred to as bivalve molluscs or shellfish. They feed by filtering and eating nutrients found in water.
Why can they cause poisoning?
Because shellfish are filter feeders, they occasionally accumulate harmful substances such as biotoxins and microorganisms from the water they filter during feeding. Biotoxins are harmful natural substances produced by some types of algae which could be present in waterways.
Biotoxins can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhoea to severe respiratory and neurological problems. Harmful microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria might be present in waterways due to run-off from the land, especially after heavy rainfall.
What about commercially harvested shellfish?
In NSW, commercially harvested shellfish produced by oyster and mussel farmers and fishers collecting shellfish, such as pipis, must comply with a comprehensive food safety program.
This program is controlled through the NSW Shellfish Program administered by the NSW Food Authority and is a requirement of the Food Production (Seafood Safety Scheme) Regulation 2001. This program assists commercial shellfish harvesters in controlling the risks associated with harmful substances in shellfish.
What’s the problem if I collect shellfish?
Shellfish collected by recreational fishers should never be eaten raw. This is because recreationally harvested shellfish are not subject to the same strict food safety controls as commercially harvested shellfish. Consequently, the NSW Food Authority recommends eating only shellfish harvested commercially under a recognised Program.
How can I reduce the risk of food poisoning from shellfish I harvest?
You are not allowed to collect pipis for human consumption. If you do collect other shellfish for eating, you should never collect shellfish:
- After rainfall. Periods after rainfall are especially high risk for shellfish collection. Waiting several days after water has cleared (the muddy look has gone) following rainfall will reduce the risk of bacterial and viral contamination.
- From water affected by algae blooms. Algae can appear as red water discolourations, including green, yellow, brownish and an oily or milky appearance. Other blooms can show no discolouration but be highly toxic at low levels. Always check signs and local media for information on algal alerts.
- If the area is closed by a NSW Fisheries closure. For example, it is prohibited to collect shellfish from Sydney Harbour and various other waterways. For further information on NSW Fisheries closures, ring 1300 550 474 or visit the NSW Fisheries Internet site at http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au
Cooking shellfish by placing them in rapidly boiling water and bringing the water back to the boil for more than 90 seconds should kill any bacteria present.
Boiling Shellfish will not kill biotoxins!
It is important to remember that boiling will not destroy or remove biotoxins which might be present in shellfish. Eating shellfish contaminated with biotoxins may result in serious illness or death.
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