Klahoose First Nation Fisheries Department is warning the public about consuming shellfish from Mansons Lagoon, Cortes Island – stating a dangerous phytoplankton was found in the area.
In a news release, the First Nation said the organism, Pseudo-nitzschia (pronounced sue-dough nitz-see-uh), produces a biotoxin called domoic acid — a neurotoxin capable of causing permanent short-term memory loss, brain damage and, in severe cases, death in humans.
Shellfish feed on these phytoplankton, allowing domoic acid to accumulate in the shellfish tissue – when consumed, these contaminated shellfish can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning.
Bryan Pielle, coordinator of the water sampling program that conducted the tests, said “samples are collected from different depths. I sample Monday through to Thursday and if anything changes in the results, it will be posted right away.”
The alert noted that while it is not illegal to harvest shellfish in contaminated areas, the public is strongly cautioned against consuming shellfish from the lagoon.
“It is with extreme caution that you are informed of the hazards of consuming shellfish harvested from the contaminated areas,” the statement read.
