By ANNE BESTON
A toxic algal bloom has moved into the Marlborough Sounds but has not yet affected the area's mussel industry.
Cells of the paralysing algae showed up in sampling results 15km into Tory Channel near the junction with Queen Charlotte Sound, Mussel Council chief executive Paul Lupi said yesterday.
Most of Marlborough's 600 mussel farms were still more than 20km away from the bloom.
The algal bloom causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. Eating shellfish contaminated by the algae can be fatal. Symptoms include tingling around the mouth, dizziness and breathing difficulties.
Between 1000 and 2000 people are employed in Marlborough's $127 million industry.
Entire farms could be forced to close if the algae spreads through the Sounds.
It has already forced the closure of the entire west coast of the North Island for shellfish gathering since it was first discovered in the Manukau Harbour in early May.
So far there have been no official reports of sickness, although two Northland people were rumoured to be ill from eating shellfish last month.
Mussel toxin threat extends into Sounds
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