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Franklin Harbour opens

Thursday 24 April 2007

Franklin Harbour near Cowell on Spencer Gulf has been reopened by Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) for the sale and taking of all bivalve mollusc species, including oysters.

This follows two clear tests for pinnatoxins in oysters.

The PIRSA Executive Director of Agriculture and Wine, Dr Don Plowman, thanked the oyster growers for their co-operation during the closure.

The closure was first enforced on March 14 following detection of pinnatoxins by PIRSA’s South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (SASQAP).

While there is no recorded evidence of pinnatoxins causing illness in humans, a precautionary approach was adopted, closing Franklin Harbour to the taking of all bivalve molluscs, while further testing could be undertaken.

Temporary closures of shellfish growing areas are implemented from time to time as part of the Shellfish Quality Assurance Program eg due to heavy rains.