Public asked to avoid Backaskaill shellfish until further notice

Orkney Islands Council’s environmental health service is advising the public that, until further notice, shellfish collected from Sanday’s Backaskaill Bay should not be eaten.

Monitoring work carried out by the OIC has identified raised levels of naturally occurring algal toxins in shellfish from the location.

Commercial shellfish harvesters in the affected areas have been contacted by the council and asked to postpone harvesting until toxin levels subside.

The council will continue to monitor the situation and the local press will be updated – and warning notices removed – when levels sufficiently subside.