The Department of Maritime Fisheries announced on Monday the ban on the harvesting and marketing of shellfish from the Oued Laou-Kaa Asrass shellfish zone, falling under the Tétouan-Chefchaouen region, until the environment is completely purified.

The results of analyses carried out by the National Institute for Fisheries Research at the level of the said zone indicate "the presence of marine bio-toxins in the shellfish at abnormal levels," explains a press release from the department.

The department recommends that consumers only purchase packaged products bearing health identification labels and sold in authorized points of sale (official markets).

"Shellfish peddled or sold in bulk offer no guarantee of safety and constitute a danger to public health," warns the press release.