Proposals for a new, tiered system for the harvesting and marketing of king scallops were unveiled by the Food Standards Agency Scotland today.
The new system would ensure that public health remains rigorously protected, while at the same time increasing consumer choice and reducing the impact shellfish toxins have on the scallop industry.
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The proposals will be subject to an eight-week consultation – including face-to-face meetings with consumers, fishermen and environmental health officers – and feedback from this will assist the drafting of new legislation needed to introduce any changes to the existing system.
By proposing a tiered system, the Food Standards Agency Scotland is aiming to take advantage of the now scientifically-accepted fact that Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) builds up in different concentrations in the various parts of scallops. Any edible scallop parts which are free of toxins or within accepted safety levels would be allowed to be marketed under the proposed new system.
Dr George Paterson, Director of the Food Standards Agency Scotland, said:
“We should never forget that ASP is potentially lethal and therefore the Agency’s over-riding concern is to ensure public health is not endangered by these toxins. We are confident that the proposals being issued for consultation today in no way compromise the priority we attach to protecting consumers.
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By GlobalData“What the system would do, however, is help the industry harvest scallops and market those parts which are safe for human consumption. In the past this has not been possible. The plans outlined today show that the Agency has listened closely to representations from the industry and forged a way forward which will, if introduced, bring about improvements for both consumers and fishermen.
“We will be consulting widely with consumers, industry, local authorities and other interested parties over the next eight weeks. The co-operation of these stakeholders is essential if we are to introduce a workable system. In particular, the proposed system would require comprehensive end product testing so we would be looking to the industry to show its commitment to making tiered testing work.”
At present, where ASP levels in the scallop roe (gonad) exceed accepted safety limits areas of water are closed completely to scallop fishing. This means the potentially safe white meat, which generally has lower toxin concentrations than the roe, cannot be marketed therefore limiting consumer choice and industry activity.
The proposed tiered system takes advantage of the fact that ASP is found in different concentrations in the various edible parts of scallops. The highest concentrations are found in the mantle, gills and hepatopancreas, with lower concentrations in the roe and even lower concentrations in the white meat.
Under the proposed system, the whole scallop and roe will be initially tested. Where safe levels are detected in the whole scallop, no restrictions will be put in place. If the whole scallop exceeds safety limits but the roe does not, fishing will be permitted but only for the purposes of marketing the roe and white meat.
If both the whole scallop and the roe exceed safety levels, the white meat will be tested. If levels in the white meat are safe then fishing will be allowed for the sole purpose of marketing the white meat. If white meat levels exceed safety limits then waters will be closed to scallop fishing completely.
