Tas warning over toxic algae shellfish

An outbreak of naturally occurring algae in waters off Tasmania's east coast has sparked a warning not to collect or eat wild shellfish from the region due to high toxin levels which could prove fatal.

Oysters, mussels, clams, pipis, scallops, abalone or the gut and organs of rock lobster or crab from anywhere along the east coast could be poisonous and cooking the shellfish will not make a difference, the state's acting director of public health Mark Veitch said on Friday.

"Shellfish feed on algae and concentrate the toxin, which makes them dangerous to eat and may cause serious and even fatal illness," he said.