ARGYLL and Bute Council’s environmental health service has issued a temporary warning about the harvesting of common cockles at Castle Stalker, Port Appin.

Monitoring work undertaken by the team has identified that raised levels of bacteria have occurred in the cockle harvesting area.

This means that cockles from this area may pose a risk to human health and cannot be sold. Notices to warn the public and casual gatherers have been posted at various locations on the shore.

Commercial shellfish harvesters working in the area have been contacted by the council and steps taken to postpone harvesting until microbiological levels subside.

Argyll and Bute Council’s monitoring work continues and, when the situation changes and has been evaluated, warning notices will be removed.