Safe and Sustainable Shellfish: Introducing local testing and management solutions

浮游植物（藻类）在决定渔业生产力的海洋生态系统中至关重要，但约2%的海洋浮游植物物种产生的生物毒素可在捕捞的贝类中积累，对人类健康构成威胁。贝类的收获，包括贻贝、扇贝和牡蛎，是英国水产养殖业的重要组成部分，每年价值约4000万英镑，支持3000多个农村就业岗位。收获的贝类是蛋白质的重要来源，在国内外有市场。扩大这一产业的潜力巨大，然而，由于海洋中存在有害藻类，这些藻类会积聚在滤食性贝类中，因此可能会停止捕捞，特别是在夏季。监测水和贝类是否存在生物毒素，有助于确定捕捞是否安全。据报道，如果发生关闭，单个养殖场每年的成本超过16万英镑。该联盟汇集了三种新技术和世界一流的专业知识，提供早期预警，近乎即时的生物毒素检测和一个系统，以保护有害藻类事件期间的收获地点。这是一个独特的机会，可以利用最初由RCUK资助的三个独立开发项目，通过贝类养殖户、政府监管机构和贸易协会的直接合作，熟练地利用它们的部署。第一个令人兴奋的新技术是电子鼠标，之所以这样称呼，是因为尽管在一个小型（6x12x6厘米）的电子仪器中，我们的目标是检测所有受管制的生物毒素组，并有可能包括未来可能受到管制的其他生物毒素。不久以前，消费者的安全是通过使用小鼠生物测定来保证的，现在已经被复杂的分析检测系统所取代。目前需要大约一周的时间和多种方法来获得结果，然而，电子鼠标将提供一种格式，可以在贝类捕捞现场使用，并提供即时结果，支持有关捕捞或保护贝类养殖场的快速管理决策。一旦毒性已经积累，检测毒性往往会限制管理选择，因此这项合作包括称为ShellEye的基于卫星的早期预警系统，该系统将有助于预测有害藻类事件，特别是它们在贝类采集区的位置。从卫星图像获得的数据将与浮游植物监测和浮游植物样本中的生物毒素检测相关联。然后，预警将用于决定何时使用第三种创新技术，即光催化幕。此外，在RCUK的另一个研究项目中，这种基于tio2的催化豆荚被专门设计用于促进发展中国家水库中生物毒素和藻类的处理。这里计划的工作将探索它们在海洋环境中使用的最佳配置，以保护收获地点，因此有了反应幕的概念。使用这种技术的好处是，没有化学物质排放到水中，催化剂在照射时产生高能量，短寿命羟基自由基，破坏有机分子，可以有效地对抗微生物。该项目的基础是发展生产所有所需的浮游植物、生物毒素和参考物质的能力，以在开发和现场使用期间充分验证电子小鼠，同时支持光催化优化。该项目的最终成果将是制定一项综合管理战略，来自工业界、监管机构和学术界的所有合作伙伴将为贝类采集区的实际实时监测和保护做出贡献。这反过来又将限制收获损失，并确保支持扩大这一水产养殖业的信心。

Phytoplankton (algae) are essential in marine ecosystems determining fisheries productivity however around 2% of marine phytoplankton species produce biotoxins that can accumulate in harvested shellfish, posing a threat to human health. Harvesting of shellfish, including mussels, scallops and oysters, is an important part of the UK aquaculture industry worth around £40 million per annum and supporting over 3,000 rural jobs. The harvested shellfish are an important source of protein with markets at home and abroad. There is significant potential to expand this industry, however, harvesting can be halted, particularly in the summer months, due to the presence of harmful algae in the sea which can accumulate in the filter feeding shellfish. Monitoring of water and shellfish for the presence of biotoxins helps determine if it is safe to harvest, and where closure occurs it has been reported to cost a single farm in excess of £160,000 per annum. This consortium brings together three new technologies and world class expertise to provide an early warning, near instant biotoxin detection and a system to protect harvesting sites during harmful algal events. This is a unique opportunity to exploit research three separate developments initially funded by RCUK, allowing their deployment to be expertly utilised through the direct collaboration of shellfish farmer, government regulators and trade associations. The first of the exciting new technologies is the e-mice, so called because although in a single small (6x12x6 cm) electronic instrument we aim to detect all groups of regulated biotoxins with the potential to include other biotoxins which may be regulated in the future. Not so long ago consumer safety was ensured by the use of a mouse bioassay, this has now been replaced by sophisticated analytical detection systems. Currently it takes around 1-week and multiple methods to obtain results however, the e-mice will be developed to provide a format that can be used at a shellfish harvesting site and give instant results supporting rapid management decisions regarding harvesting or protection of the shellfish grounds. Detecting toxicity once it has already accumulated can often limit the management options therefore this collaboration includes the satellite-based early warning system called ShellEye which will help predict harmful algae events and particularly their location with respects to shellfish harvesting areas. Data obtained from satellite imagery will be correlated with phytoplankton monitoring and biotoxin detection in phytoplankton samples. Early warning will then be used to make decisions on when to use the third of the innovative technologies which is the photocatalytic curtain. Also, pioneered under a different RCUK research project, the TiO2-based catalytic pods have specifically been designed to facilitate the treatment of biotoxins and algae in reservoirs in developing countries. The work planned here will explore their optimum configuration for use in a marine environment in a way that will protect harvesting sites, hence the concept of the reactive curtain. The benefits of using this technology is that no chemicals are discharged into the water, the catalyst when illuminated produces high energy, short life hydroxyl radicals which destroy organic molecules and can be active against microorganisms. The project will be underpinned by developing the capacity to produce all the required, phytoplankton, biotoxins and reference material to fully validate the e-mice during development and field use while also supporting photocatalytic optimisation. The culmination of the project will be the development of an integrated management strategy where all partners from industry, the regulators and academics will contribute to a practical close to real-time monitoring and protection of shellfish harvesting areas. This will in turn limit harvesting loses and ensure confidence to support expansion of this aquaculture industry.