Risk Assessment of Current Shellfish Toxin Monitoring Schemes and Development of Improved Schemes

Shellfish harvested from inshore production areas in Scotland are monitored by the Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) for the toxins responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Consumption of shellfish contaminated with these toxins leads to symptoms such as diarrhoea, memory loss, paralysis and in severe cases might lead to death.
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Currently, the FSAS monitoring programme is based on testing at those sites where these toxins have been previously detected in shellfish. Monitoring is carried out on a monthly basis, with sites that are known to be at high risk monitored fortnightly during April to September. If toxin levels exceed the statutory safety limit, the harvesting area will be closed until two successive results, at least one week apart, fall below the safety limit.
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The aims of the project were to:
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provide a description of how toxin levels of ASP, DSP and PSP vary during the year at various sites, for mussels, Pacific oysters, scallops, queen scallops and cockles
assess the risks that the current programme may not detect a toxic site<p>
develop alternative monitoring schemes that offer a more efficient allocation of resources, or an improved level of public health protection