As noted in the background section, Paralytic Shellfish Toxins pose a significant economic risk to the rock lobster industry, the Tasmanian algal bloom in 2012/2013 resulted in losses to the seafood industry in the vicinity of $20million AUD and scientific data is critically needed to assist in minimising losses in future years.

Knowledge on the how rock lobsters accumulate PSTs (e.g. trophic pathway) is crucial to underpin
future management strategies, including validating the use of species which may be more readily
gathered to indicate risk (e.g. the use of farmed or wild caught mussels). Additionally, there is limited
information on the elimination of PSTs from Jasus edwardsii. This data would assist industry in an
event where large volumes of product have been harvested and are being held in live-containment
facilities, particularly in Australia where animals can be held for several weeks in tanks. Information on
persistence in the wild will also underpin decisions on potential re-direction of fishing effort to non
contaminated areas.