The 2012 Tasmanian biotoxin event represents a paradigm shift for seafood risk management in Tasmania and Australia as a whole. The causative dinoflagellates are extremely difficult to identify by routine plankton monitoring, and are toxic at very low cell concentrations (50-100 cells/L) . Sampling the extensive Tasmanian coast line poses a major logistical challenge, with early hints that the blooms originate offshore. The precise pathway of toxin transfer to rock lobster is unclear. The presence of cyst beds suggest that problems will persist .
Final report
The 2012 Tasmanian biotoxin event represents a paradigm shift for seafood risk management in Tasmania and Australia as a whole. The causative dinoflagellates are extremely difficult to identify by routine plankton monitoring, and are toxic at very low cell concentrations (50-100 cells/L). Sampling the extensive Tasmanian coast line poses a major logistical challenge. This project sought to improve the understanding of Tasmanian harmful algal bloom biology, ecology and toxicology to support seafood biotoxin risk management.
