The ban on harvesting and selling mussels in Port Dickson waters is lifted immediately

TAMPIN: The Department of Fisheries Malaysia has lifted the ban on the harvesting and sale of shellfish, including mussels, in the waters of Port Dickson and Melaka following a drop in biotoxin levels to a safe level.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said, as a result of laboratory monitoring and analysis, biotoxin readings showed a decrease below 400 parts per billion (ppb) for the 15th sample.

“So fishing activities in the affected areas can continue as usual. Monitoring and sampling will still be done from time to time,” he told reporters after officiating the Sungai Jerneh Fishing Community Fishing Festival (myKP) at the Kampung Sungai Jerneh Fish Estate, Gemencheh, near here.

Also present were Tampin Member of Parliament Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa and Director General of Fisheries Datuk Adnan Hussain.

At the same time, Arthur also advised the public to be vigilant and follow further developments from the authorities to ensure food safety.

Last April 4, DOF Deputy Director General (Management) Wan Aznan Abdullah said the results of laboratory analysis at the Kuala Lumpur Fisheries Biosecurity Center found that there was harmful algae that caused the mussels in Port Dickson’s waters to be contaminated and unsafe to eat.

Meanwhile, Arthur said Negeri Sembilan is the biggest contributor to the aquaculture sub-sector, which accounts for 5,587.4 metric tons (90.78 percent) of fish production with a value of RM73.8 million last year.

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