PRIMROSE
The PRIMROSE project will develop a web-portal system providing a joint front end for transnational forecasts of harmful events for the aquaculture sector. In addition to the HAB forecasting, PRIMROSE will investigate forecasts models for microbial contamination. Reporting procedures will be standardised, and partly automated for an expert evaluator to have information available to make an accurate forecast.
The Marine Institute are the project lead in PRIMROSE. This project follows on from the successful ASIMUTH project, which delivers weekly HAB’s forecast bulletins to the Irish aquaculture industry. To view these bulletins, please click here.
Further information on the PRIMROSE project is available at www.shellfish-safety.eu
PSPSafe: Increasing Risk of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Events In Ireland
This is a four-year DAFM Funded project where the Marine Institute are the project lead with Atlantic Technological University and University College Dublin.
The project investigates the increasing abundance and distribution of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins, a highly potent group of naturally occurring marine toxins which can occur in shellfish (mussels, oysters, clams, cockles), which, when present, can cause serious illness and fatalities to humans if consumed, posing a serious risk to food safety. A comprehensive sampling and analytical programme targeting these toxins in the water, sediment and shellfish, will be conducted in aquaculture production areas, to identify the causes, timing, environmental factors and mechanistic pathways of toxin occurrence. Novel molecular methods, predictive modelling and risk assessment tools will be developed. The outputs and deliverables of the project will allow for risk management strategies and predictive forecasting tools to be implemented as an early warning system for the aquaculture industry and regulatory competent authorities, thus providing increased assurances to consumer safety and supporting the integrity, quality and commercial reputation of Irish shellfish.
Click here for the PSPSafe website for further information and updates.
Scallop Harvesting Notifications & Trade Notices
Scallop Processors can observe a list of current and historical samples which have been submitted for biotoxin analysis per production week and also submit a new notification when submitting a new sample for analysis.
View previously submitted scallop harvesting samples or submit a new notification
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) also issues trade notice which contains details for the harvesting and placing on the market of scallops from Offshore and Inshore Classified Production Areas.
Biotoxin & Production Maps
These maps provide details on sampling sites and locations for biotoxin and phytoplankton sampling in biotoxin production areas and also rom offshore ICES rectangles.
Biotoxin Code of Practice for the Irish Shellfish Monitoring Programmme
The Code of Practice is a document which provides full details on all aspects National Monitoring Programmes for Biotoxin and Phytoplankton from sampling and analysis through to decision making in Classified Production and Offshore areas for marine bivalve molluscs. The document is available via the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) website.
Code of Practice for the Irish Shellfish Monitoring Programmme (Biotoxins)
Classified Production Areas & Code of Practice for Microbiological Monitoring
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) maintains and regularly updates a list of Classified Production areas based on the monthly results of the Microbiological Monitoring of Marine Bivalve Mollusc Production Areas. A Code of Practice document on microbiological monitoring has been produced which details all aspects of the programme is also available from the SFPA website
COP for Microbiological Monitoring of BiValve Mollusc Production Area