In regards to last weeks post relating to scallops taken from an area of the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery, in which there was evidence of an algal bloom. Lab tests had identified elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) in a sample taken from the area on 21 August 2013. The PST levels detected in the sample were 0.7mg/kg which are just below the maximum level for human consumption in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (0.8mg/kg). In response to the test results the Tasmanian Scallop Fisherman’s Association advised its members to suspend harvesting scallops from the area pending results from later samples. We now have lab test results on scallops taken from the same area approximately one week after the first sample. These results have returned a PST reading of 0.2mg/kg, which is well under the maximum level permitted by the Food Standards Code. The Department of Health and Human Services advise that, as a result, there is no current evidence to indicate a PST risk to human health from scallops harvested in Bass Strait. It means that scallops harvested from all open Bass Strait fisheries can continue to be sold for human consumption. There will be ongoing monitoring of this fishery and we will let you know if there are any significant issues or risks in the future. We congratulate the Tasmanian Scallop Fisherman’s Association for their proactive risk management approach in this matter.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 00:42:51 +0000
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