A toxic shellfish warning is being issued for the coastline stretching from the Coromandel to the Bay of Plenty.

People are being warned not to eat any shellfish harvested along the coast after routine tests found levels of toxins above the safe limit.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says people should not collect or eat any shellfish from Te Ororoa Point just north of Tairua to Bowenton Heads, Tauranga.

The warning does not include Tauranga Harbour.

This map shows the affected areas.

Symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning typically appear between 10 minutes and three hours after ingestion and may include:

Numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet), difficulty swallowing or breathing, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.

Anyone who becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish for testing.

Monitoring of toxin levels will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.

Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets, or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by MPI to ensure they are safe to eat.