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Blue-green algae in the Gippsland Lakes: December 2011 - May 2012

Elevated concentrations of the blue-green algal (cyanobacterial) species Nodularia spumigena were detected at the Gippsland Lakes from November 2011 till March 2012. Concentrations of Nodularia exceeded human health safety levels. Advice was provided by the incident management team to avoid direct contact with water affected by the blue-green algae bloom. Direct contact with algae affected water may result in skin irritation, respiratory effects and hay-fever like symptoms. Human ingestion of affected seafood with toxins above health guideline values could adversely affect liver function and possibly carcinogenic.

In March 2012, concentrations of blue-green algae declined to levels which no longer posed a risk for direct contact recreational activities resulting in lifting of recreational advisories.

Testing confirmed that the algae produced a toxin which was taken up by seafood.

In fish, toxins accumulate to the greatest degree in the internal organs, but could also accumulate in the head and in the flesh, particularly if blooms continue over long periods.

During the bloom test results showed that the toxin concentrated in the internal organs of fish, and that fish which were gilled and gutted were safe to eat.

Levels of toxin in whole (finned) fish have now declined to levels that no longer affect human health. As of 26 April 2012, recreational anglers and licensed commercial fish suppliers have been advised that commercial fishing of fin fish can re-commence.

In filter feeders such as mussels and crustaceans, toxins distribute throughout the flesh of the organism.

Levels of toxin in prawns, mussels and crabs collected from within the Gippsland Lakes have now declined to levels that no longer affect human health. As of 9 May 2012, recreational anglers and licensed commercial suppliers have been advised that the advisory against collection and consumption of prawns, mussels and crustaceans from within the Gippsland Lakes has been lifted.

Health guideline values for toxin in seafood which were derived by an independent Scientific Advisory Group formed the basis of the advice.

Advisory warning signs erected at key recreational access sites around the Gippsland Lakes have been removed and media releases have also been issued.

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Further information

Health Risk Assessment for Cyanobacterial Toxins in Seafood
This paper estimates risk from seafood contaminated by cyanobacterial toxins, and provides guidelines for safe human consumption. This paper can be accessed online through the following link: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/3/807/

The following table provides a summary of the nodularin health guideline values derived for seafood from the Gippsland Lakes.

Health guideline values for nodularin in seafood from the Gippsland Lakes*

Toxin Health guideline value for nodularin toxin is seafood from the
Gippsland Lakes (ug/kg of whole organism sample)
Fish Prawns Mussels (Molluscs)
Microcystin-LR
or equivalent
toxins, i.e.
Nodularin		 24 32 51

* For further information refer to the Factsheet - Health risk assessment for cyanobacterial toxins in seafood from the Gippsland Lakes

 Factsheet - Health risk assessment for blue-green algae in seafood from the Gippsland Lakes

Seafood samples were collected from within the Gippsland Lakes and tested for toxins. The following seafood testing results were obtained:

Results from laboratory analysis of Black Bream whole fish samples

Date of collection Sample Location Level of nodularin toxin
in whole fish samples (ug/kg)1		 Level of nodularin toxin in
gilled & gutted fish samples (ug/kg) 2
6-12-11 Jones Bay < 16  
7-12-11 Point Turner 16  
7-12-11 Eagle Bay/ Split Jetties 43  
7-12-11 Tambo Bay 47  
15-12-11 Jones Bay < 16  
15-12-11 Point Turner < 16  
15-12-11 Eagle Bay/ Split Jetties < 16  
15-12-11 Tambo Bay < 16  
21-12-11 Eagle Bay 41 < 16
21-12-11 Tambo Bay 52 < 16
21-12-11 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
21-12-11 Metung < 16 < 16
21-12-11 Wattle Point < 16 < 16
5-1-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
10-1-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
12-1-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
16-1-12 Jones Bay 111 < 16
17-1-12 Wattle Point 20 < 16
16-1-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
16-1-12 Tambo Bay < 16 < 16
17-1-12 Metung 203 < 16
30-1-12 Jones Bay 30 < 16
30-1-12 Wattle Point < 16 < 16
30-1-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
30-1-12 Tambo Bay 19 < 16
07-2-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
06-2-12 Wattle Point 44.4 -
25-1-12 Eagle Bay 19 < 16
25-1-12 Tambo Bay < 16 < 16
31-1-12 Metung 27.4 < 16
7-2-12
Metung 54 < 16
8-2-12 Eagle Bay 40 < 16
10-2-12 Waddy Point 74 < 16
14-2-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
13-2-12 Eagle Bay 39 < 16
13-2-12 Tambo Bay 24 < 16
14-2-12 Metung 28 < 16
15-2-12 Waddy Point 145 < 16
21-2-12 Jones Bay 39 < 16
21-2-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
21-2-12 Tambo Bay 17 < 16
21-2-12 Nungurner < 16 < 16
27-2-12 Waddy Point 42 < 16
28-2-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
27-2-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
27-2-12 Tambo Bay < 16 < 16
28-2-12 Lake King < 16 < 16
1-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 < 16
6-3-12 Nungurner 33 < 16
6-3-12 Bancroft Bay 25 < 16
7-3-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
7-3-12 Eagle Bay 32 < 16
7-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 -
8-3-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
8-3-12 Eagle Bay 17 < 16
12-3-12 Tambo Bay < 16 < 16
12-3-12 Nungurner < 16 < 16
13-3-12 Jones Bay 18 < 16
13-3-12 Eagle Bay 30 < 16
15-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 -
20-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 -
19-3-12 Jones Bay 21 < 16
19-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 < 16
19-3-12 Tambo Bay 53 < 16
26-3-12 Tambo Bay 17 < 16
23-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 -
27-3-12 Waddy Point 32 -
27-3-12 Waddy Point < 16 -
26-3-12 Waddy Point 28 < 16
2-4-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
2-4-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
2-4-12 Tambo Bay < 16 < 16
3-4-12 Waddy Point < 16 < 16
3-4-12 Metung < 16 < 16
9-4-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
10-4-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
10-4-12 Tambo Bay 20 < 16
13-4-12 Waddy Point < 16 < 16
13-4-12 Metung < 16 < 16
16-4-12 Jones Bay < 16 < 16
16-4-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
16-4-12 Tambo Bay < 16 < 16
19-4-12 Waddy Point < 16 < 16
19-4-12 Metung < 16 < 16
23-4-12 Eagle Bay < 16 < 16
23-4-12 Tambo Bay 17 < 16
23-4-12 Metung < 16 < 16

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Results from laboratory analysis of whole mussel samples

Date of collection Sample Location Level of Nodularin toxin (ug/kg)3
13-12-11 Kalimna Jetty 740
13-12-11 Nungurner Jetty 63
13-12-11 Metung Jetty 36
18-12-11 Kalimna Jetty 506
18-12-11 Nungurner Jetty 107
18-12-11 Metung Jetty 102
5-1-12 Kalimna Jetty 189
5-1-12 Nungurner Jetty 170
5-1-12 Metung Jetty 168
11-1-12 Kalimna Jetty 330
11-1-12 Nungurner Jetty 71
11-1-12 Metung Jetty 126
16-1-12 Kalimna Jetty 338
16-1-12 Nungurner Jetty 215
16-1-12 Metung Jetty 183
30-1-12 Kalimna Jetty 525
30-1-12 Nungurner Jetty 306
30-1-12 Metung Jetty 187
6-2-12 Kalimna Jetty 334
6-2-12 Nungurner Jetty 351
6-2-12 Metung Jetty 149
13-2-12 Kalimna Jetty 100
13-2-12 Nungurner Jetty 130
13-2-12 Metung Jetty 73
20-2-12 Kalimna Jetty 135
20-2-12 Nungurner Jetty 249
20-2-12 Metung Jetty 77
27-2-12 Kalimna Jetty 111
27-2-12 Nungurner Jetty 642
27-2-12 Metung Jetty 241
5-3-12 Kalimna Jetty 152
5-3-12 Nungurner Jetty 274
5-3-12 Metung Jetty 328
13-3-12 Kalimna Jetty 88
13-3-12 Nungurner Jetty 133
13-3-12 Metung Jetty 188
19-3-12 Kalimna Jetty 144
19-3-12 Nungurner Jetty 121
19-3-12 Metung Jetty 62
27-3-12 Kalimna Jetty 39
27-3-12 Nungurner Jetty 39
27-3-12 Metung Jetty 34
2-4-12 Kalimna Jetty 64
2-4-12 Nungurner Jetty < 30
2-4-12 Metung Jetty 150
10-4-12 Kalimna Jetty <30
10-4-12 Nungurner Jetty 34
10-4-12 Metung Jetty <30
16-4-12 Kalimna Jetty 83
16-4-12 Nungurner Jetty 31
16-4-12 Metung Jetty 40
23-4-12 Kalimna Jetty <30
23-4-12 Nungurner Jetty <30
23-4-12 Metung Jetty <30
1-5-12 Kalimna Jetty <30
1-5-12 Nungurner Jetty <30
1-5-12 Metung Jetty <30
7-5-12 Kalimna Jetty <30
7-5-12 Nungurner Jetty <30
7-5-12 Metung Jetty <30

Results from laboratory analysis of whole prawn samples collected within the Gippsland Lakes

Date of collection Species Sample Location Level of Nodularin toxin (ug/kg)4
13-1-12 School Prawns Gippsland Lakes 88
29-1-12 School and King Prawns Nungurner 299
6-2-12 School Prawns Nungurner 102
13-2-12 King Prawns Cunningham Arm 75
13-2-12 King Prawns Bell's Point 91
27-2-12 King Prawns Barrier Landing 111
6-3-12 King Prawns Nungurner 77
6-3-12 King Prawns Cunningham Arm 77
14-3-12 King Prawns Nungurner 56


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Results from laboratory analysis of whole prawn samples collected outside of Lakes Entrance

Date of collection Species Sample Location Level of Nodularin toxin (ug/kg)4
30-12-11 School Prawns 6.5 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance 30
30-12-11 School Prawns 12 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 20
10-1-12 School Prawns Eastern Beach 124
15-1-12 School Prawns Eastern Beach 137
17-1-12 School Prawns Eastern Beach 270
29-1-12 School and King Prawns Eastern Beach Channel 224
30-1-12 School Prawns 2 Nautical miles east of Lake Tyers 107
30-1-12 School Prawns Off Lake Bunga 81
2-2-12 School Prawns Between 0.5 and 2.2
Nautical miles east of Lake Tyers		 119
4-2-12 School Prawns 7 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance 77
4-2-12 King Prawns 1.5 miles straight out from
Lakes Entrance		 107
4-2-12 School Prawns 11 Nautical Miles east of
Lakes Entrance (3.5 fathoms deep)		 130
6-2-12 School Prawns Lakes Entrance 98
14-2-12 School Prawns 14.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
14-2-12 School Prawns 5 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
15-2-12 School Prawns 7.5 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
16-2-12 School Prawns 1.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
16-2-12 School Prawns 12 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
16-2-12 School Prawns 4 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
16-2-12 King Prawns 0.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance 55
16-2-12 King Prawns 2 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance 35
16-2-12 King Prawns 5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance 110
21-2-12 School Prawns 0.2 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
21-2-12 School Prawns 3 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
21-2-12 School Prawns 13 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
21-2-12 School Prawns 4.5 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
21-2-12 School Prawns 7 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
21-2-12 King Prawns 3.6 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
26-2-12 School Prawns 0.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
26-2-12 School Prawns 3.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
26-2-12 School Prawns 6 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
26-2-12 King Prawns 6.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance 44
27-2-12 King Prawns Eastern Beach Channel 99
11-3-12 King Prawns 4.5 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
13-3-12 King Prawns 5 Nautical miles west of Lakes Entrance < 30
21-3-12 King Prawns 4 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
25-3-12 King Prawns 43 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
27-3-12 School Prawns 6 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance < 30
27-3-12 King Prawns 6 Nautical miles east of Lakes Entrance 44
28-3-12 King Prawns 1 Nautical mile from Lakes Entrance < 30
28-3-12 School Prawns 1 Nautical mile from Lakes Entrance < 30
2-4-12 King Prawns 10 kilometers east of Lakes Entrance < 30
2-4-12 School Prawns 3 kilometers east of Lakes Entrance < 30
3-4-12 King Prawns 1 Nautical mile east  from Lakes Entrance < 30
3-4-12 School Prawns 1 Nautical mile east from Lakes Entrance < 30


Advisories relating to the collection of prawns, mussels or fish from the Gippsland Lakes were lifted when toxin levels were detected below established health guideline levels for two successive weeks at all sample sites.

Information about the cyanobacterial bloom in the Gippsland Lakes is available on the DSE website www.water.vic.gov.au and from DSE’s Customer Service Centre on telephone 136 186.

1 Composite sample comprised of three fish collected from each of four different sites
2 Composite sample comprised of three fish collected from each of five different sites
3 Composite sample comprising 100 g of mussels collected from each of three different sites
4 Composite sample comprising 100g of prawns collected from each site

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Last updated: 10 May, 2012
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