Mussel farming rafts in Galicia. (Photo: Lía Russo)

Red tide threatens half of Galician polygons

SPAIN
Monday, October 26, 2009, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

Galician authorities plan to decree the closing of more mussel rafts in the next few days due to the appearance of red ride as of some weeks ago on the coast.

According to experts from the Galician Quality Control Technology Institute of Marine Environment (INTECMAR), 50 per cent of Galician raft polygons are threatened by Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).

The red tide situation being faced by mussel farms along the Galician coast could worsen. (Map: Stock File)

Although the situation could get worse, there is no health risk for the population upon consuming the mollusc once it has passed the pertinent controls, Galician sanitary authorities clarified.

The paralysing toxin is less common than Diarretic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP), but the raft producers, mainly those of the estuary of Pontevedra, are worried about the closing of some eight polygons.

In addition, there are another eight polygons that do not operate in Arousa: Cambados A1, Cambados B, Cambados C North and Cambados C South, next to Grove C1, C2, C3 and C4, Faro de Vigo reports.

The following rafts also remain closed: Baiona, Muros B and in the Vigo estuary, raft polygons Cangas F, Cangas G and Vigo A.

According to the latest notifications conducted by INTECMAR, mussels originating from the other 28 polygons distributed by Galicia are available to consumers; as are the oyster polygons Cambados D, Grove A, Grove F and Redondela A.

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