Improved risk management of paralytic shellfish toxins in Southern Rock Lobster

Since 2012 the east coast of Tasmania has suffered from significant outbreaks of seafood contamination by paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) from dinoflagellate blooms of Alexandrium tamarense. Limited evidence suggests that PST contamination of lobsters may also occasionally occur in South Australia and Victoria. However, the monitoring, management and mitigation approaches for biotoxin risks in crustaceans remain poorly developed with current approach using bivalve PST monitoring as a trigger for lobster testing. Lobster testing is expensive and hence a very limited number (5) animals are tested which if positive leads to lengthy closures of large fishing zones. This investment will refine monitoring tools to reduce the costs associated with PST biotoxin risk management including the application of cheaper and faster PST testing and exploration of non-destructive sampling methodologies. In addition, potential impact of PST on lobster vigour will also be investigated.