COMMERCIAL and recreational fishing in Sydney Harbour will today be banned for the first time in the city's history in response to dangerous levels of pollution.
The NSW Government is expected to announce a three-month ban on all fish after "significant levels" of dioxins were found in bream, making them unsafe to eat.
According to a report in Sydney's Daily Telegraph last night, an expert panel of toxicologists working for the NSW Food Authority will meet with state Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald today to recommend the ban as tests continue on a wide range of fish.
The ban comes after Port Jackson was closed to commercial prawn fishing on December 3 when harmful levels of dioxins were discovered in prawns. On January 9, Mr Macdonald watered down the ban to allow use of Port Jackson prawns for bait.
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