Monitoring of Phytoplankton in Seawater around Scotland

Certain phytoplankton species can produce toxins that accumulate in shellfish. These toxic shellfish, if consumed, can pose a serious risk to human health. EU directive 91/492/EEC obliges member states to monitor coastal waters for the presence of toxin producing phytoplankton species, specifically Alexandrium spp. (PSP), Dinophysis spp. (DSP) and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (ASP).
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This project fulfils two requirements:
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1. To monitor the coastal areas around Scotland for the presence of toxic phtyoplankton; and
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2. To monitor water samples from selected offshore areas historically associated with high levels of ASP toxicity in scallops to allow for detailed taxonomic analysis of the phytoplankton species present.