Biotoxins
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Weekly Biotoxin News update
The Tasmanian Biotoxin News is a weekly update of biotoxin flesh and algal sampling results for commercial bivalve shellfish growing areas in Tasmania. View the most recent edition:
Please note: Administrative delays may occur posting this newsletter.
Biotoxins in the marine environment
The marine environment supports a range of microscopic plants called phytoplankton or algae. Some algae produce natural chemicals that are toxic to humans. These toxins do not represent a problem in algal cells as the toxin concentrations are low and not in a form consumed by humans. However they may be concentrated in the tissues of filter feeding shellfish (e.g. oysters, mussels, scallops and clams) thus providing a means by which high and potentially fatal concentrations of toxin may be ingested by humans. The shellfish themselves are relatively insensitive to the toxins.
The toxins produced by algae can cause
four significant syndromes when concentrated by shellfish and consumed by humans:
- Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)
- Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP)
- Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP)
- Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP)
The symptoms of these syndromes range from mild illness to death in susceptible consumers.
Dinophysis acuminata, a diarrhetic shellfish toxin (DST) producing dinoflagellate. Photo:
Dr. Penelope Ajani.
Biotoxin management plan
The Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) has developed a biotoxin management plan to better protect shellfish consumers from the risk of biotoxin poisoning, The biotoxin management plan focuses heavily on monitoring for biotoxins in meats and is supported by algal monitoring and chemical testing as required.
ShellMAP Biotoxin Management Plan
(933Kb)
Please note: the Tasmanian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (TSQAP) has now become part of the Shellfish Market Access Program (ShellMAP) and has been renamed
ShellMAP Regulatory Services. This change will be reflected in documents as they are reviewed.