Port Lincoln shellfish harvesting areas close as toxin believed to be algal bloom related appears

The future of 80 seafood industry workers is in doubt after two major mussel producers were handed four-week shutdown orders.

The future of more than 80 seafood industry workers is in doubt as multiple oyster businesses have been temporarily shutdown due to waterborne toxin related to the algal bloom. Picture: Supplied.

More than 80 seafood industry workers have been affected by temporary business closures as a waterborne toxin related to the toxic algal bloom hits shellfish-harvesting areas around Port Lincoln.

On July 9, a precautionary four-week closure was enacted at the Boston Bay, Bickers Island, Lower Eyre and Proper Bay oyster-harvesting areas – as a result of waterborne brevetoxins – during routine testing by the South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program.

As a result, two major mussel producers, Yumbah Mussels Holdings and Deedah Oysters, were forced to temporarily stop operating.

A PIRSA spokesman said officers were working with shellfish-harvesting producers during the temporary closures and that they would reopen as soon as “relevant food-safety standards” were met.

“Temporary precautionary closures happen regularly in shellfish-harvesting areas, even before the algal bloom, but if the need for closures extends beyond the usual time frames, the state government will be open to providing support,” he said.

Environment Minister Susan Close said the government was working with the seafood industry.

“I’m hopeful that the businesses will be able to survive at least a short period without lay-offs,” she said.

The PIRSA spokesman said most of SA’s shellfish-harvesting areas that were not part of the regular seasonal closures remained open, stressing that the produce was “safe to eat”.

This week’s closures are not the first to affect shellfish production in SA.

Several oyster leases on the Yorke Peninsula were closed in May due to the effects of the toxic algal bloom, with many yet to reopen.

Oyster farmer Steve Bowley told The Advertiser earlier this month that his business had lost between $40,000 to $50,000 due to the closures.

“It’s getting to the stage where you can’t sustain that,” he said.

“Something’s got to give.”

It comes after Sunday’s announcement by the Opposition Leader, Vincent Tarzia, calling on the government to fund an independent Royal Commission into the impacts of the toxic algal bloom on the state’s marine industry.

“Hearing of even more businesses suffering because of this toxic algal bloom is just devastating,” he said.

“This is why we are calling for a Royal Commission to ensure we understand the cause and how we can better protect our marine industries into the future.”

Originally published as Port Lincoln shellfish harvesting areas close as toxin believed to be algal bloom related appears