First Detection of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins from above the Regulatory Limit in Blue Mussels () in New South Wales, Australia.

In 2016, 2017 and 2018, elevated levels of the species were detected within a blue mussel ( aquaculture area at Twofold Bay on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. In 2016, the bloom persisted for at least eight weeks and maximum cell concentrations of 89,000 cells L of were reported. The identity of was confirmed using molecular genetic tools (qPCR and amplicon sequencing) and complemented by light and scanning electron microscopy of cultured strains. Maximum reported concentrations of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in mussel tissue was 7.2 mg/kg PST STX equivalent. Elevated cell concentrations of were reported along the adjacent coastal shelf areas, and positive PST results were reported from nearby oyster producing estuaries during 2016. This is the first record of PSTs above the regulatory limit (0.8 mg/kg) in commercial aquaculture in New South Wales since the establishment of routine biotoxin monitoring in 2005. The intensity and duration of the 2016 bloom were unusual given the relatively low abundances of in estuarine and coastal waters of the region found in the prior 10 years.