OYSTER fishing has been banned in part of the western Solent following the discovery of toxic algae.
A temporary prohibition order has been issued after a routine oyster sample tested positive for a substance that can cause food poisoning.
Anyone eating a contaminated shellfish could develop diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pains. Symptoms take effect between 30 minutes and several hours after eating the food, and can last for up to three days.
New Forest District Council issued the prohibition order, which came into force at noon yesterday.
A council spokesman said: "In the interests of food safety, shellfish merchants and fishermen have been advised what to do with the oysters harvested on or before March 3, when the sample was taken.
"The oysters can either be put back where they were harvested, retested to make sure they meet food safety standards, or destroyed."
The prohibition order covers the Lymington River, Lymington Bank, Pennington Bank, Keyhaven and the Beaulieu River. Southampton Port Health Authority will issue a similar order for their zone.
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