Recent disturbing social media posts by recfishers have shown some people willing to defy the health warnings not to consume shellfish (including crabs) or fish from the Perth's rivers.
Fishers who do are putting themselves at serious risk, if they consume anything they've caught in the Swan and Canning rivers' algal bloom warning areas.
The latest advice from the Department of Health reminds us that ingestion of toxins produced by the microscopic Alexandrium species of algae can produce a type of poisoning known as paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Cooking does not destroy these toxins.
See the latest updated warning, which indicates the bloom has now extended to the upper Swan: https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Media-releases/2020/Swan-and-Canning-algal-bloom-extends-to-upper-Swan