TSQAP Risk Management: Catchment runoff & Biotoxins

Shellfish Futures – Smithton 2014

Management of catchment risks• ID potential sources of pollution

• Find relationships – between environmental conditions and pollution

• Produce management plans – showing when it is safe to harvest

Identify pollution sources

Bacterial water sampling

30cm

surface25

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Salinity

Vertical gradient of bacteria

Find Predictable relationshipsZone 5

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Salinity (PSU)

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ASQAP operations manual APC sampling:•TC >21 cfu/100ml (not >10%)•TC>14 cfu/100ml (not >median or 50%)

BOM & CSIRO (Sense-T)

OTHER ToolsWhole shellfish meat E.coli

Management of biotoxin risks• 2013 Biotoxin Management Plan (version 2.2)

• Meat sampling (primary tool)– Weekly in high & medium risk areas– Less in low risk & relay only areas

• Algal sampling (additional information)– Monthly

Biotoxin - Algal samplingIntegrated tube or Surface bottle

Biotoxin Meat samples

Summary• Thermo-tolerant coliforms in water– Indication within 24 hours (PRESUMPTIVE)– 2 days for full analysis (CONFIRMED)

• E. coli in meats– Rapid 24 hour test (e.g. Public Health Lab)

• BIOTOXINS Meat samples~ 3 days (CONFIRMED)

• BIOTOXINS Algal identification (Full counts)~5 days