The Negeri Sembilan government will study the impact of the biotoxin contamination case on the mussel farming industry in Port Dickson before taking appropriate measures to help affected fishermen and entrepreneurs.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the state will look into the matter especially after Singapore took action to impose limitations on the distribution and purchase of mussels from Port Dickson
“The mussel industry in this state is not big but only a downstream industry among the fishermen to generate income. Even though the number is not many, we want to see the effect of this on coastal fishermen and will take the next step,” he said.
Yesterday, Singapore imposed limitations on the distribution and purchase of mussels from Port Dickson, as they have been found to contain harmful biotoxins.
Singapore Food Agency (SFA) reportedly received confirmation from the Department of Fisheries (DOF) Malaysia on the matter and is working with importers to verify the source of their mussel imports and ensure that they are not imported from the area.
On April 4, the Department of Fisheries deputy director-general (Management) Wan Aznan Abdullah reportedly said that the laboratory analysis of the Kuala Lumpur Fisheries Biosecurity Centre found that there was harmful algae, which caused the mussels in Port Dickson waters to be contaminated and unsafe to eat.
