Recreational fishers are advised that self-collected pipis from Goolwa Beach - between Middleton Point and the Murray Mouth - are to be used for bait only due to the detection of brevetoxins.
Pipis – also known as Goolwa cockles – from the commercial harvesting areas south of the Murray Mouth are not impacted and remain safe to consume.
The South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (SASQAP) regularly tests shellfish weekly to ensure they are safe for human consumption.
Testing from samples taken this week show brevetoxin levels of pipis sampled from Goolwa Beach have reached the food safety limit.
Water sampling taken at the same time had zero detections of Karenia, showing that the algal bloom has not returned to Goolwa Beach.
Bivalves such as pipi can continue to accumulate brevetoxins because they filter water that still contains legacy brevetoxin left behind in the environment long after the Karenia bloom itself has faded.
All commercially available shellfish harvested from open South Australian waters is safe to eat as it undergoes strict testing to uphold food safety standards.
Signage will be in place along Goolwa Beach in English, Chinese, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Afghani Fahsi and Filipino to remind fishers that pipis are not to be consumed.
The recreational collection of pipis in South Australia closes on 31 May.
For more information on SA Health advice for any recreationally collected shellfish, or the algal bloom, visit algalbloom.sa.gov.au or call the hotline on 1800 774 779.
For the latest advice on recreational fishing, see Closures or Fishing limits, or download the SA Fishing app.
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