FISHERS have been advised not to eat shellfish caught in the lower Hawkesbury River.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries has advised a harmful level of algae in the river has been detected downstream of the Pacific Highway Bridge.
The high levels of algae cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins.
The department warns that cooking the shellfish does not decrease the toxins in the shellfish.
The department said poisoning is rare, however, people affected by it could potentially die, or suffer a number of other mild to severe conditions.
The department said for the time being all commercial production of shellfish had stopped, and would resume when the algal bloom died down.
The algal species which has bloomed is called Alexandrium catenella.
The department said this species, and some other types, could build up harmful toxins in shellfish when there was an algal bloom.
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