Jul

19

Due to red tide 34 mussel polygons close

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Mussel platforms. (Photo: Stock File)

Due to red tide 34 mussel polygons close





SPAIN


Friday, July 19, 2013, 23:30 (GMT + 9)

The Xunta de Galicia decided to close 34 mussel poligons across the autonomous region after detecting the presence of microalgae, causing the so-called red tide.

This situation affects the estuaries of Arosa, Baiona and Vigo.

The Galician authorities have clarified that the consumption of mussels is not harmful to human health if these molluscs were extracted, sold and purchased in compliance with the regulations.

Otherwise, the consumer can be affected by various health issues, particularly diarrhea.

The regional government decided to prohibit the extraction of mussel in the polygons of Cambados C (South), Grove C3, Cambados C (North) and Pobra H, in Arosa; and in the ones from Vigo: Redondela C-F, Redondela E and Redondela B-G.

At the moment, the only ones that remain operative are a polygon in Ares-Betanzos, 15 in Arosa, one in the estuary of Pontevedra and another one in Vigo.

In the case of Carril (Vilagarcía), the waters turned brown in colour but the appearance of toxic cells was ruled out as the cause, the newspaper Faro de Vigo reported.

The huge brown stain was detected by a group of fishermen who were next to the fish market in Carril. The workers alerted the emergency services of Galicia, which took samples to determine the cause of the stain.

The analyses indicated that it was a type of microalgae that is harmless for human health.

In the last weeks there were high temperatures, which favours spawning and the proliferation of this type of marine organisms.

The microalgal blooms can produce different colours, depending on the type of microalgae: red, red-orange, brown-green, brown-red and chocolate brown.

Related article:

– Galician government defends biotoxin control in mussels

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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