A toxic algae bloom that has affected large areas off the North Island's West Coast could pose a big threat to the Nelson mussel industry.
The bloom means that the industry's major source of mussel spat, Kaitaia, is now off-limits.
Industry representatives said yesterday that if they could not secure access to that spat source over the next month or so, their ability to grow mussels would be severely impeded.
Sealord Shellfish general manager John Hannah said the bloom was "potentially quite a major threat" to the whole industry.
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