South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:05): Supplementary: how is the minister and her department working in particular with the oyster farmers to ensure that they have clarity and certainty in regard to the Karenia brevis algal outbreak?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:06): The department has been working with various industry sectors that are being affected by this. On 5 May, PIRSA received results of tissue samples collected in the Stansbury aquaculture oyster harvesting area. The preliminary tissue sample test results have indicated the low-level presence of brevetoxins, which is a neurotoxic shellfish toxin, at a rate of 0.36 milligrams per kilogram.

This was part of routine testing undertaken by the South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (SASQAP), a joint initiative by the state government and the shellfish sector to assure consumers that South Australian shellfish is safe for human consumption. SASQAP will continue to undertake further testing.

It's important to note that at this stage there has been a precautionary closure. That doesn't mean that there is a risk to human health. It is not unusual for closures to be done on a precautionary basis to ensure that there is no danger. Results so far in shellfish remain under the levels of the food safety Australia and New Zealand standards. SASQAP will continue coordinating sampling and testing of areas and we will share those results as they become available.