Twenty Galician mussel raft zones have been closed due to the biotoxins. (Photo: Stock File)
Biotoxins force the closure of more mussel rafts
SPAIN
Thursday, July 15, 2010, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
The presence of biotoxins in the waters of Galicia has forced the closure of 20 mussel raft areas, out of a total of 50 that exist in the Galician estuary. The possible increase of closures of the rafts had been anticipated a few days ago by Covadonga Salgado, the director of the Technological Institute for the Control of the Marine Environment (INTECMAR).
However, the authorities clarified that they have authorized the consumption of mussels extracted from those Galician rafts which are still open, because those which arrive at the market conform with the corresponding health regulations.
The majority of times there is toxicity in the water usually occurs in the spring (between March and June), but on this occasion it didn't happen and the intense ocean currents entering the estuary were filled with nutrients to renew the 'depleted' water, which nowadays is being registered, reports Faro de Vigo.
For now, members of the mussel sector in Galicia say they are not concerned about the situation.
In accordance to the experts at INTECMAR, the absence of outcrops during spring also caused the mussels to not become larger and consequently delayed their spawning.
At this point, the river most affected by the presence of lipophilic toxins is Pontevedra, with a total of eight closed polygons.
INTECMAR also ordered the closure of the polygons Grove C4 as well as Grove C2; the Wall A, in the Ria de Baiona, and eight in the Ria de Vigo.
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