SOMOS MAR The Ría de Ferrol has been closed to shellfish harvesting because the levels of the amnesic toxin ASP have shown results above the permitted limit, as the Consellería do Mar informed the senior ship owners of the ría late Wednesday afternoon. The measure also affects the mouth of the Ría de Ares. The samples taken by Intecmar staff reflected levels that are twice the permitted limit, which is why any extractive activity in the Ría de Ferrol and the mouth of the Ría de Ares is suspended. Now Intecmar will conduct new samples to determine if the levels start to drop. This news is another blow to the sector that was beginning to work after some very challenging months due to the string of winter storms. The presence of the ASP toxin has also prevented the launch of a new scallop campaign, which was planned for these months.