4 Molluscan Shellfish Safety in South America
43
Chile
Since 1989, the National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) – the Competent
Authority of Chile – has implemented the National Shellfish Sanitation Program
(NSSP), which applies to the production areas situated along the Pacific coast where
harvest is destined for export. One of the main targets of this program is to maintain
permanent monitoring of the harvest areas, in order to ensure the safety of the
resources, particularly with respect to marine biotoxins. The NSSP complies with
the requirements of the sanitary authorities of the United States, Canada, European
Union and New Zealand, which allows the country to export bivalve molluscs to
these markets (2). Currently there are 162 production areas that participate in this
Sanitation Program, 13 of which correspond to natural beds (wild) and 149 to
aquaculture sites, which entails over 400 extraction sites. Ninety five percent of
the total authorized areas are located in Los Lagos Region, an area that has been
sporadically affected by episodes of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s) since 2002.
The latest episode of HAB’s, beginning in 2009, was due to the presence of PSP.
The affected area comprises a large zone in the south of Chile (Aysen region)
with significant toxin levels of PSP above the limit considered safe for human
consumption. This episode affected the Quell´ on zone, at the south of Chilo´ e Island,
where a large number of production areas authorized to export to the EU are located.
On February 27 2010, Chile was affected by an important earthquake, with
severe damage to the local fishery industry in the regions of the Maule and Bio
Bio; nevertheless, the major production areas located in the south of these regions
were not affected. The major effects occurred in the region of Tubul (in the BioBio
region) where the movement of submarine sediments did not permit harvesting of
benthic species for some time. In March 2011, Chile was affected by a tsunami
as a consequence of the Japan earthquake, resulting in economic detriment to the
oyster and mussel culture. Fortunately, no chemical contamination was detected in
the production areas. Presently, there is no evidence of significant contamination
due to the presence of biotoxins in the production areas, only sporadic detection of
diarrheic shellfish poison (DSP) during March and May 2011, in Seno del Roncav´ ı
and Butachauques islands, in the Lagos region. Historic surveys of phytoplankton in
this area demonstrated the presence of Protoceratium reticulatum; the mouse bioassay symptoms seem to reveal the presence of Yessotoxins. If toxins are present in
levels above standards stated by the CA, the harvest is banned in the affected areas.
Uruguay
In 1980, the Competent Authority of Uruguay, the National Direction of Aquatic
Resources (DINARA) established a monitoring program for PSP biotoxins and
phytoplankton in molluscs of the Atlantic coast of Uruguay. In the following
43
Chile
Since 1989, the National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) – the Competent
Authority of Chile – has implemented the National Shellfish Sanitation Program
(NSSP), which applies to the production areas situated along the Pacific coast where
harvest is destined for export. One of the main targets of this program is to maintain
permanent monitoring of the harvest areas, in order to ensure the safety of the
resources, particularly with respect to marine biotoxins. The NSSP complies with
the requirements of the sanitary authorities of the United States, Canada, European
Union and New Zealand, which allows the country to export bivalve molluscs to
these markets (2). Currently there are 162 production areas that participate in this
Sanitation Program, 13 of which correspond to natural beds (wild) and 149 to
aquaculture sites, which entails over 400 extraction sites. Ninety five percent of
the total authorized areas are located in Los Lagos Region, an area that has been
sporadically affected by episodes of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s) since 2002.
The latest episode of HAB’s, beginning in 2009, was due to the presence of PSP.
The affected area comprises a large zone in the south of Chile (Aysen region)
with significant toxin levels of PSP above the limit considered safe for human
consumption. This episode affected the Quell´ on zone, at the south of Chilo´ e Island,
where a large number of production areas authorized to export to the EU are located.
On February 27 2010, Chile was affected by an important earthquake, with
severe damage to the local fishery industry in the regions of the Maule and Bio
Bio; nevertheless, the major production areas located in the south of these regions
were not affected. The major effects occurred in the region of Tubul (in the BioBio
region) where the movement of submarine sediments did not permit harvesting of
benthic species for some time. In March 2011, Chile was affected by a tsunami
as a consequence of the Japan earthquake, resulting in economic detriment to the
oyster and mussel culture. Fortunately, no chemical contamination was detected in
the production areas. Presently, there is no evidence of significant contamination
due to the presence of biotoxins in the production areas, only sporadic detection of
diarrheic shellfish poison (DSP) during March and May 2011, in Seno del Roncav´ ı
and Butachauques islands, in the Lagos region. Historic surveys of phytoplankton in
this area demonstrated the presence of Protoceratium reticulatum; the mouse bioassay symptoms seem to reveal the presence of Yessotoxins. If toxins are present in
levels above standards stated by the CA, the harvest is banned in the affected areas.
Uruguay
In 1980, the Competent Authority of Uruguay, the National Direction of Aquatic
Resources (DINARA) established a monitoring program for PSP biotoxins and
phytoplankton in molluscs of the Atlantic coast of Uruguay. In the following