Deputy agriculture and food security minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said laboratory monitoring and analysis showed biotoxin readings had decreased to below 400 parts per billion (ppb) for the 15th sample.

“So fishing activities in the affected areas can return to normal.

“Monitoring and sampling will still be carried out from time to time,” he told reporters after officiating a fishing programme at Kampung Sungai Jerneh Fish Estate, Gemencheh, near here.

Also present were Tampin MP Isam Isa and fisheries department director-general Adnan Hussain.

Arthur advised the public to be vigilant and follow further announcements by the authorities to ensure food safety.

On April 4, fisheries department deputy director-general (management) Wan Aznan Abdullah had said laboratory analysis at the Kuala Lumpur Fisheries Biosecurity Centre found harmful algae that caused mussels in Port Dickson’s waters to be unsafe to eat.

On another matter, Arthur said the state is the biggest contributor to the aquaculture sub-sector at 5,587.4 tonnes (90.78%) of fish production with a value of RM73.8 million last year.

“This involves 431 registered aquaculture operators. The Tampin district contributed RM2.9 million to freshwater fish production,” he said.