Fisheries department deputy director-general (management) Wan Aznan Abdullah said water samples and mussels in the coastland’s waters were contaminated with biotoxins and harmful species of algae.

“The hot weather is one of the causes of this algae multiplying quickly in the waters, but it does not affect other marine life such as fish, shrimp, crabs and so on.

“We advise the public not to eat these mussels (from PD) within the next 20 days. After the Raya festive season, we will take more samples to be tested before confirming that the mussels here are safe to eat,” he said at a press conference today.

Wan Aznan said the department will continue monitoring and conducting regular testing until the cell density in the water decreases and biotoxins are not detected in the mussels.

The department is working with the police to ensure there is no harvest and sale of shellfish in the district.

“There are 40 registered mussel operators here in Pasir Panjang as well as unregistered ones. The mussels in the waters do not have to be disposed of, they will neutralise themselves. But the mussels that have been harvested and sold in the market must be destroyed,” he said.

He said samples were also taken from the waters of Melaka and Johor, and they were found to be safe with no proliferation of the algae.

Wan Aznan also said one food poisoning victim is still receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Port Dickson Hospital.

Earlier, the Negeri Sembilan fisheries department took samples of mussels and seawater in Port Dickson following an alleged case of food poisoning from consuming the seafood.

The state health department also said there were eight cases of food poisoning related to the consumption of mussels, with two admitted to the ICU.