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THE discovery of e-coli bacteria has forced the closure of two shellfish production beds in South West Wales. Pembrokeshire County Council has issued issue a Notice of Temporary Closure on the oyster and mussel beds which are near the Cleddau Estuary.
The council has warned people not to take oysters from the area between the Cleddau Bridge and Picton Point or collect mussels from Lawrenny. They should also avoid eating cockles, clams, razor fish or other shellfish from the beds until they reopen.
The decision was taken after discussions with CEFAS (Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) in Weymouth and the Food Standards Agency Wales, and having regard to the South West Wales Local Action Plan.
In accordance with EU food hygiene legislation, Pembrokeshire County Council said it was under a duty to conduct routine sampling of shellfish in order to test for the presence of E.coli bacteria from areas designated for the production of shellfish for human consumption.
Samples of oysters and mussels were taken from designated monitoring points and submitted for examination to the Public Health Wales laboratory, Carmarthen.
The examination revealed E.coli levels of greater than 18,000 E.coli/100g of flesh, giving rise to an ‘Action State' under the terms of the South West Wales Local Action Plan.
The elevated levels follow a period of exceptionally heavy rainfall. This will have increased agricultural run-off and possibly added discharge from the functioning of storm water overflows. Similar levels have been reported across the South West Wales region.
"As a precautionary measure, Pembrokeshire County Council has taken the decision to temporarily close the affected mussel and oyster production areas until results demonstrate the shellfish quality to have returned to within acceptable limits," said the authority.
Members of the public are also advised not to consume bivalve molluscs (oysters, mussels, cockles, clams, razor fish, etc.) collected in these areas, until they have been re-opened.
Officers are currently posting notices in the affected areas to alert both commercial gatherers and members of the public of the status of the shellfish beds. Other local authorities in the South West Wales region and the industry have also been notified of this action. Monitoring of shellfish in this area will continue with additional samples planned shortly.
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