Authorities have been accused of gambling with residents’ health by burying a new set of guidelines for people living in the Williamtown contamination zone, warning them they should limit their consumption of certain types of seafood to as little as 150 grams a week.
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Last month, the NSW Department of Primary Industries received widespread publicity as it announced the public could be confident seafood for sale was “safe to eat” and fishing closures at Tilligerry Creek and Fullerton Cove would be lifted.
On the same day, a fact sheet was posted on the Department’s website, outlining a separate set of rules for people living in the ‘red zone’ who consumed large quantities of seafood tainted by firefighting chemicals from the RAAF base.
It warned that children between the ages of 2 and 6 should only consume one serve, or 150 grams per week, of dusky flathead, luderick, sea mullet, silver biddy, eastern king prawns, school prawns, blue swimmer crabs or mud crabs.
All other age groups were also advised to limit their consumption of dusky flathead and eastern king prawns to 150 grams a week.
Children under six should have no more than four serves a week of sand whiting and yellowfin bream and other age groups no more than four serves a week of luderick, school prawns and blue swimmer crabs.
A spokesperson for the Department defended its actions, pointing out that it referenced the new guidelines at the bottom of a media release on the lifting of the fishing ban, and also included a link to the fact sheet.
“The dietary guidelines for commercial and recreational fishers and residents of the area are tabled in the fact sheet. An extensive industry briefing was held with commercial fishers on September 27 and DPI also ensured the Community Reference Group were advised of the guidelines,” she said.
But President of Salt Ash Community First Nick Marshall said most residents were unaware of the new guidelines and he was astounded a government agency could be so “blasé” about chemicals linked with cancer in overseas studies.
“While it’s fantastic fishers can continue to ply their trade, right from the word go everything else always seems to get priority above the health of the community.
“By now, they should have a procedure down pat for releasing guidance like this, not relying on the public to stumble across it on a website,” he said.
