The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) have issued an urgent warning after testing revealed dangerously high toxin levels in shellfish from Saldanha Bay, raising concerns about public health and prompting the closure of local harvesting areas, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The DFFE says recent monitoring has uncovered toxin concentrations in farmed mussels and oysters that exceed safety limits by more than 15 times. The findings have been linked to a significant harmful algal bloom currently affecting waters in and around Saldanha Bay.
According to the department, routine monitoring conducted on 25 May detected elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST), a naturally occurring toxin that can accumulate in shellfish when certain species of microscopic algae rapidly multiply.As a result, shellfish production areas in Saldanha Bay have been closed to harvesting for human consumption until further notice.
‘Recent monitoring undertaken on 25 May 2026 has detected very high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) in mussels and oysters in the Saldanha Bay farms, with toxin levels recorded at more than 15 times the regulatory safety limit. High concentrations of toxin-producing phytoplankton (Alexandrium catenella) have also been recorded, indicating a significant harmful algal bloom.’
– The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
According to the DFFE, it remains unclear how far the contamination may extend along the West Coast, with toxin levels potentially varying from one area to another. For now, residents and visitors are being urged to avoid collecting, consuming or selling any wild shellfish sourced from Saldanha Bay and surrounding coastal regions.
Paralytic Shellfish Toxins can cause a serious condition known as paralytic shellfish poisoning. Symptoms can develop quickly and may include numbness, tingling, dizziness, difficulty breathing and, in severe cases, paralysis. Health experts warn that contaminated shellfish can appear completely normal, making it impossible to identify a risk through sight, smell or taste alone.
This means even experienced coastal foragers could unknowingly collect shellfish that pose a significant health threat.
This latest warning follows a series of harmful algal bloom events that have affected the West Coast in recent years.
Earlier this year, authorities issued a separate alert after red tide conditions led to marine life washing ashore near Elands Bay. Residents were cautioned against collecting stranded seafood, including West Coast rock lobster, due to concerns over toxin exposure and bacterial contamination.
While red tide events are not uncommon along the region’s coastline, environmental experts note that some blooms can produce toxins capable of accumulating in marine organisms, particularly filter-feeding shellfish such as mussels and oysters. These organisms effectively filter large volumes of seawater, which can cause harmful toxins to build up in their tissues over time.
The warning has sparked concern among local fishing communities and coastal residents, many of whom regularly harvest shellfish for personal use. The DFFE stresses that the current restrictions are a precautionary measure aimed at protecting public health while ongoing monitoring continues.
Until updated guidance is issued, the safest option is to avoid eating any wild-harvested shellfish from Saldanha Bay and nearby West Coast areas.
The DFFE says further testing will determine when conditions return to safe levels and whether additional stretches of coastline may be affected.
Article by Cameron Kelly for Cape ETC
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