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MEL-REL Research

HABs

There are still important gaps in our knowledge of the ways in which seafoods become contaminated by HABS toxins. Improvements in our understanding will support better management of these economically valuable national and export industries. MEL will be addressing some of these requirements for knowledge through the applications of radio-labelled HABS toxins in our 'state of the art' experimental aquaria. These nuclear techniques will be used to measure the absorption of these biotoxins directly from the aquatic medium by molluscan shellfish, their subsequent tissue distributions, and how they may pass up the food chain to fish and crustacean predators, that can also be consumed by humans. Knowledge of variations in contaminant levels between individual mollusks and particular species is also valuable for making better informed assessments of human exposure. To further link this scientific information to decision-making in fisheries management a Coordinated Research Programme is planned by MEL for 2006 in collaboration with the IAEA/FAO. Its general objective is to integrate studies on applications of nuclear techniques to HABS bioaccumulation in mollusks and food chain transfer with risk management decision-making, in relation to suitability for human consumption. One of its envisaged outcomes will be a better valuation of the economic contribution that these nuclear technologies make to enhancing seafood safety and consequently national and international trade in these valuable commodities.