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| Toxic Algal Bloom Update and Fishery ClosuresThere are public health warnings in place for the eating of wild shellfish and rock lobster in the Huon and Lower D’Entrecasteaux areas and on the East Coast. The latest health warnings are summarised below, and are subject to change. For up-to-date information about public health alerts relating to this event, refer to the Director of Public Health's current Public Health warnings or phone the Department of Health and Human Services hotline on 1800 671 738.
There are currently no recreational fishery closures due to algal blooms, however other seasonal closures apply. For example, the recreational scallop fishery in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel is presently closed due to the state of the stocks.
Commercial Fishers should also read the information below relating to the commercial fishery.
The toxic alga causing concern is the species Gymnodinium catenatum, a species that regularly blooms in the lower Huon River and Port Esperance in the autumn/early winter. This season, however, the bloom has impacted on waters farther south than normal. This is a different species of toxic alga to the one that forced fishery closures along the east coast last spring and summer.The public health warning media statement released on 27 March 2013 indicates: - The extended health alert in the Huon-D’Entrecasteaux area is bounded in the north from Ninepin Point to Alonnah, down to Burnett Point (north of Southport) to Point Labillardiere (south of Partridge Island) and includes all bays and estuaries in between. (See map – note the red indicates the affected area and does not indicate closed areas for fisheries).
- People should not eat wild harvested oysters, mussels, clams, pipis, abalone, or rock lobster viscera (guts and organs). If collecting scallops, discard all the gut and roe and wash the meat thoroughly before consuming.
| Huon and Lower D'Entrecasteaux Public Health Alert Area |
The public health warning media statement released on 27 March 2013 indicates:
- The east coast between Marion Bay and Waterhouse Island of Tasmania is still affected by the toxic alga Alexandrium tamarens, with concerning levels detected in several areas recently.
- People should not to eat wild harvested oysters, mussels, clams, pipis and the roe and gut of scallops from the east coast.
- In addition, the Director of Public Health recommends the safest usual practice is not to eat the gut or organs of rock lobster or crab from this or other areas. Rock lobster flesh is safe eat.
DPIPWE has moved to close that part of the commercial rock lobster fishery along the coast between the southern entrance to Port Esperance to just north of Southport and across to the Labillidiere Peninsula on Bruny Island. View a map of the closed area for commercial fishers.
- Fishers can transit through the closed area, but the setting of pots and taking of rock lobster is prohibited from midnight 28 March 2013.
- This precautionary action has been taken to protect the industry’s market access to valuable international export markets.
- Samples of rock lobster will be collected and sent to Sydney for analysis to ascertain if rock lobster in the area contain paralytic shellfish toxin, related to this bloom.
Recreational fishery enquiries: Ph (03) 6233 7042 or 1300 720 647 or subscribe to our email news service.
Commercial fishery enquiries: Ph (03) 6233 6797
Email: fishing.enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
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