Proliferation of plant pests

Rare toxic algae, capable of causing fatal paralytic poisoning in humans, has been found in the Shoalhaven River following a silo collapse that released hundreds of tonnes of wheat into the water. Oyster farms downstream were briefly closed but have since reopened after tests confirmed safety.
Rare toxic algae that can prove fatal to humans has been detected in a South Coast river just weeks after a catastrophic silo collapse caused hundreds of tonnes of wheat spill into the water.were picked up in the Shoalhaven River at Nowra, about a kilometre upstream from the Manildra starch factory, where two wheat silos collapsed last month.
Oyster farms about 15 kilometres downstream from the factory were closed last Friday after the algae were detected, but the Department of Primary Industry reopened them on Thursday after testing found the harvest area, and the oysters, were safe. But the public has been told to avoid eating wild shellfish they might collect themselves from the river near the Nowra Bridge, and to avoid the water at the recreational spot, which is popular with water skiers. Fin fish should be cleaned thoroughly.