National Marine Biotoxin Risk Management Plan

Marine Biotoxins

Marine Biotoxins have been an issue in New Zealand since 1993. When a toxic algal bloom occurs, shellfish accumulate the toxins after feeding on the algae. Rock lobsters then accumulate the toxins in their hepatopancreas as they feed on the toxic shellfish. There is no evidence that toxins accumulate in the muscle tissue or flesh itself.

 Biotoxin Monitoring and Event Response

MPI monitor recreational shellfish harvesting sites around New Zealand. This includes weekly water sampling to check the phytoplankton levels or fortnightly shellfish sampling to check toxin levels. If the shellfish are found to be at or above the regulatory level (of 0.8 mg/kg PSTs), a public warning is issued.

 The NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council (NZ RLIC) have developed a plan to respond to events when there is a risk to rock lobster. This plan has been endorsed by MPI as the accepted way of managing the risk to food safety and to protect rock lobster export markets.

 Where the biotoxin levels and/or trends indicate that an event may be pending, the NZ RLIC will advise the relevant CRAMAC Response Coordinator who in turn will provide the early warning to fishers that an event may be likely.

If test results of shellfish samples are over the regulatory level, MPI will issue a Public Warning. The rock lobster industry will initiate event response when a public warning is issued or if it is deemed necessary based on a risk assessment.

 At the beginning of an event, a Fishing Closure Notice is issued and the CRAMAC Response Coordinator will arrange for five (5) individual lobster hepatopancreas samples to be taken from areas that are affected by the marine biotoxin event and where fishing is taking place.

 Depending on the results, the area will either be opened for fishing (if the lobsters are under the regulatory limit) or the Fishing Closure Notice will remain in place (if the lobsters are over the regulatory limit), until such time as the lobster testing indicates there is no risk.  See attached for a summary of action.

 The plan is designed to minimise the time an area is closed to fishing to only that which is necessary to manage the marine biotoxin risk to public health and the market. It is important that all fishers, LFRs and RMP Operators comply with the requirements of the plan and any action, as communicated by the CRAMAC Response Coordinator.  Any non-compliance places the whole industry at risk.

Lobsters caught after a closure notice has been issued:

It is recognised that there will be lobsters that may be caught between an event beginning and a fishing closure notice being issued. In this case, the lobsters need to be sampled and analysed to confirm they are below the regulatory limit (0.8 mg/kg), prior to being released for sale/export. The number of samples required will be confirmed by NZ RLIC and the SSC technical advisor. Payment of the cost of sampling and analysis will be determined by NZRLIC and the Response Coordinator.

If fishers continue to fish and hold lobsters after a closure notice has been issued, this non-compliance will be referred to MPI who will require further sampling prior to sale. The cost of the sampling and analysis will need to be met by the fisher.