Crays may be off limits

FEARS are growing record toxin levels caused by East Coast algal blooms could prevent people from catching rock lobster in the area this summer.

Fishers are eagerly awaiting results from paralytic shellfish toxin sampling.

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies scientists began testing rock lobster for paralytic shellfish toxins at half a dozen East Coast biotoxin zones this week, with 40-50 samples sent to Sydney for analysis.

IMAS scientist Gustaaf Hallegraeff said the liver of each lobster would be sampled because that was where the toxins concentrated, with results to be revealed by next Friday.

This year’s eastern recreational season opens on November 18 and the commercial fishery opens on November 27 but mussel samples have recorded such high levels along the whole the East Coast that those dates could be at risk.

Shellfish are considered safe to eat if paralytic shellfish toxins levels are 0.8mg or less per kilogram of flesh, with rock lobster, oysters, mussels, clams, abalone, scallops, pipis, cockles and wedge shells all on the current alert list.

However, monitoring of wild mussel samples at Bicheno last week revealed toxin levels of 150mg per kilogram, while Spring Bay had 93mg and Blackman Bay 22mg.

Some biotoxin zones during the 2015-16 eastern region crayfish seasons were closed from November until January because of toxin levels, and the outlook isn’t good for 2017-18.

“We’ve had problems like this before but the levels were a lot less,” Prof Hallegraeff said.

“The levels are 200 times above the healthy levels.”

Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing chief Mark Nikolai said fishers were getting anxious about being able to catch lobster as the season rapidly approached. About 20,000 people hold fishing licences and can add rock lobster dive and pot conditions.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website said sample results would be used to determine the status of the seven biotoxin zones ahead of the scheduled eastern recreational season opening.

A decision on the status of each zone is not anticipated before November 13.

Meanwhile, marine police said they would enforce recreational rock lobster fishery rules ahead of the start of the western region season today.