Irish Shellfish Biotoxin Monitoring Programme

Since its initial development in the early 1970s the Irish aquaculture industry has grown to be an important contributor to the national economy. There has been a steady increase, in both output and value, as well as in job creation. The total production of farmed shellfish has increased from approximately 5,000 tonnes in 1980 to 44,678 tonnes in 2003 (Figure 1), with a first sale value of €41.8m and directly employing some 1100 people (Parsons et al, 2004). Mussels (Mytilus edulis), native oysters (Ostrea edulis), Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), Clams (Tapes semidecussata) and scallops (Pecten maximus) are the main species produced. With a growing recognition and awareness internationally of the potential human health effects of the consumption of shellfish containing algal toxins, a monitoring programme was established in Ireland in the early 1980s and has continued since then. In this paper the evolution and development of the programme is described and discussed