Contents

Announcements

Industry news

• SEAFISH
• Shellfish Association of Great Britian (SAGB)
• Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG)

Articles

• SAGB UK native oyster restoration workshop
• Factors affecting the microbial quality of shellfish
• Marine planning update
• Marine Conservation Zones
• Farming the seas: a pathway to seafood security
• Shellfish farming and risk
• Shellfish News readership survey - the results
• A survey of stocks and exploitation of European lobsters in Brittany
• Water quality workshop

Statistics

• World shellfish production
• Shellfish production in the UK in 2010

Research

Press cuttings

About

Where to get help and advice

This is an important milestone and makes a significant contribution towards the Government's objective of replacing animal testing wherever possible.

Naturally occurring algal toxins, if present in consumed shellfish, can potentially have serious, or even fatal, consequences for humans.

Until recently, toxicity tests that involved mice were the standard methods used for two of the most important groups of toxins - paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and lipophilic toxins, which include diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and azaspiracid poisoning (AZP).

These statutory, international standards had been agreed at the European level and were enforced through legislation, although non-animal alternatives had recently been approved for use by Europe.

Replacing these methods, commonly referred to as mouse bioassays (MBA), for statutory shellfish testing regimes represents a landmark in the history of the shellfish monitoring programmes in England, Wales and Scotland.

In addition to the ethical considerations, Cefas' validated chemical techniques also confer significant performance advantages:

• the methods can detect lower levels of toxins, providing a useful warning that a toxic event may be developing
• the precise amounts of toxins present in a sample can be determined
• the technique produces data on the sub-type of toxin present
• the analyses are more targeted.

Thanks to these benefits, the shift to analytical methods enables producers to use the results of the official monitoring programme to inform their end product testing regimes. This will not only be helpful to shellfish producers but lend greater safety assurance to shellfish consumers.

Dr Andy Turner, senior analytical chemist in Cefas' Food Safety group, said:

"We have worked tirelessly over recent years to refine, validate and implement chemical methods to replace the traditional toxin tests performed using mice.

"The programme of peer-reviewed work conducted has demonstrated the effectiveness of using modern technology for food safety testing and has highlighted, worldwide, the potential for replacing the use of animals for monitoring the safety of shellfish for human consumption."

The responsible UK authorities - the Food Standards Agency (FSA, food safety regulator) and the Home Office (animal testing regulator) - have long had the objective to reduce, refine and eventually replace animal testing methods with more modern analytical methods.

Andrew Wadge, Chief Scientist at the Food Standards Agency, said:

"This is a significant milestone in meeting the UK's commitment to reduce the burden of animal testing and has been achieved after years of FSA-funded research.

"PSP and lipophilic toxins can cause severe illness if people consume them, so it is important that our shellfish monitoring programme is as effective as possible at detecting them. In order to meet our commitment, we have had to ensure suitable alternative methods are introduced in all our statutory biotoxin testing.

"The hard work of the scientists involved in the programme has paid off and we are very pleased to announce that our shellfish monitoring programme is no longer reliant on tests using mice."

The laboratory work conducted by Cefas has been complex and time-consuming.

In 2006 scientists began with a liquid chromatography (LC) technique, which screened for PSP toxins in five major bivalve species covered in official UK shellfish monitoring programmes: mussels, Pacific and native oysters, cockles and whole king scallops.

Between 2007 and 2010 a fully quantitative LC method was refined and validated and by August 2011 all species of commercial interest to UK producers were being tested using this new technique.

In parallel, from January 2008 Cefas started an extensive single laboratory validation programme for lipophilic toxins. The technique used was liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Again, this was tested and validated on a range of bivalve shellfish over a period of years.

The method was implemented in early July 2011 for the majority of shellfish species relevant to Great Britain and, with the implementation of the method, extended to new shellfish species on 1 May 2012. Consequently, now no more animal tests are needed to be used for the official Great Britain shellfish monitoring programmes.

Further information

• At certain times of the year naturally occurring algae in the sea can give rise to blooms, which may not necessarily be noticeable. Certain algal blooms produce potent toxins that can accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish species such as mussels, oysters, and clams. If left unnoticed,  such toxins could transfer along the food chain posing a potential threat to human health. This natural event is well recognised and consequently regulatory authorities, worldwide, conduct monitoring programmes for these toxins to protect consumer safety.
• In the European Union (including the UK) there are currently three major shellfish biotoxin groups subject to regulatory testing to protect human health. These are:
  • paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins
  • lipophilic toxins, including those responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and azaspiracid poisoning (AZP)
  • amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxins.

EU food safety regulations prescribe the legal controls that are placed on the production and marketing of live bivalve shellfish to ensure that contaminated shellfish are not placed on the market. In the UK, the FSA is the competent authority implementing and enforcing this legislation.

• The FSA contracts Cefas scientists, based at our Weymouth, Dorset laboratory, to deliver the national biotoxin monitoring programmes for England, Wales and Scotland. Shellfish from all commercial shellfish production areas are monitored for toxins on a weekly to monthly basis (depending on risk). This work provides up-to-date information on the toxin status of over 240 areas across Great Britain, assisting the FSA and local food enforcement authorities in safeguarding public health.
• FSA-funded research work enabled Cefas scientists to test, refine and validate a fully quantitative LC method based on the AOAC Official Method 2005.06 for PSP for each species in turn. Following peer review, stakeholder consultation and further development and validation work, together with additional Cefas-led research programmes, the UK was the first country to implement this validated method into its official PSP toxin monitoring programmes.
• The new analytical methods have been assessed by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) and are both formally accredited to ISO17025 standard.

These are the key questions facing a team of top international scientists who have set off on a month-long research voyage in the waters around Scotland using the latest robotic submersible technology. The researchers will be aboard the Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC's) Royal research ship, the James Cook.

The "Changing Oceans" expedition is part of the £12 million UK Ocean Acidification Research programme, jointly funded by NERC, and government departments DECC and Defra. It will study how these unique deep-sea ecosystems function, and how they may be impacted by changes in sea temperature and ocean chemistry.

It is hoped that the survey will provide new information on how coldwater corals might best be protected in future.

Cefas' Dr Silvana Birchenough is taking part in the multidisciplinary cruise and will be using a Sediment-Profile Imagery (SPI camera) to investigate sediment layers within the seabed.

The SPI camera has a prism that penetrates the seabed and collects profile images, similar to looking at sand and gravel through the glass of an aquarium. These images help scientists to characterise the biodiversity and "bioturbation" of habitats (that is, how species rework the sediment). For this cruise, Dr Birchenough will be collecting data on habitats adjacent to the coral reefs.

Sediment-profile images (SPI) collected at different UK habitats

SWI = sediment water interface; SP = sea pen; SF = surface fauna; I = infaunal polychaete; v = void; B = burrow. The scale on the left is at 2cm intervals (© Crown copyright).

Dr Birchenough said: "This is a very exciting opportunity for us to view, in real time, various burrows, fauna and sediment types. We will be also able to incubate some of these habitats and mimic ocean acidification effects.

"This research will help our conservation colleagues (JNCC and Marine Scotland) with scientific evidence for monitoring some of these areas."

Expedition leader Murray Roberts, Professor of Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, said: "Over the past 100 years, human activities including the burning of oil, coal and gas have increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, causing the oceans to become warmer and lower in pH. For coldwater corals, these changes mean that they may start to grow slower, need more food to survive, and may not even be able to grow in some areas.

"There may also be changes in how much food is available, as the whole marine food web is likely to be altered, unpredictably, in a future, warmer, lower-pH ocean. We need to learn more about how these corals will react to the changes, by studying how they survive now, and by doing laboratory experiments to see how they respond to different conditions.

"There are also a myriad of other animals and micro-organisms which live on and around these coral reefs - we will be examining how these creatures will be affected by changes in their environment.

"Our work will also characterise the carbonate chemistry and environmental conditions surrounding the reef areas, and we will be mapping the seabed. We will also collect cores of the seabed that can take us back thousands of years in time."

A blog is being kept during the cruise around the Hebrides. To find out more about this research and to follow cruise activities on the James Cook visit: http://changingoceans2012.blogspot.co.uk.

Key findings in the 2012 MCCIP Report Card include:

• There are clear changes in the depth, distribution, migration and spawning behaviours of fish - many of which can be related to warming sea temperatures.
• Cultivated fish and shellfish are both susceptible to climate change, although fish farming technologies offer good potential for adaptation.
• Controlled or closed fishing areas (a type of protected area) that can be adapted in response to climate change have the potential to help protect commercial and vulnerable fish stocks.
• Recreational sea fishing is an important socio-economic activity that could be positively affected by climate change, due to the increasing abundance of species that are of interest to anglers.
• Shifting distributions of fish have led to a series of international disagreements and will continue to have implications for fisheries management across international boundaries.

The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, Richard Lochhead, said:

"Climate change is affecting us all and understanding the impact on the marine environment is hugely important. Fisheries and aquaculture are vital to our economy - worth over 1 billion - and clear science is critical to secure the future of our valuable food industries. That is why I welcome the collaborative work of the MCCIP - the Report Card provides significant and robust scientific data which will help inform future policies to tackle climate change."

UK Minister for the Marine Environment, Richard Benyon, said:

"I would like to thank the scientists who have contributed towards this valuable report and believe we have come a long way in a short time in understanding the impacts of climate change on the marine environment.

"The truth is that climate change is having a big impact on distribution of fish stocks and this is going to present some significant challenges for policy-makers, fisheries managers and for fishing industry itself.  

"The Government will develop a National Adaptation Plan in response to the Climate Change Risk Assessment in which issues affecting the marine environment will be addressed."

Notes for news editors

MCCIP commissioned three groups of scientists to produce a new set of scientific review papers to investigate these issues. The key finding are also summarised in a highly accessible summary Report Card. The Card includes a "regional seas climate change impacts map", which shows that most areas around the UK and Ireland are likely to be affected.

Other findings in the MCCIP Report Card include:

• Some species are key to the integrity of marine food chains. If these are particularly affected by climate change then extensive restructuring of food chains will follow. Declines in the abundance of sandeels in the North Sea may be a particular case in point.
• Increasing demand for fish versus decreasing availability may be exacerbated by climate change.
• For cod, an important economic species in the UK, short-term stock recovery will depend primarily on reducing fishing mortality. However in the longer term, climate change might be expected to have an increasingly important effect on stocks.

The 2012 MCCIP Report Card on fish, fisheries and aquaculture is being launched today, 8^th May, at the World Fisheries Congress in Edinburgh. The chair of the MCCIP Report Card working group, Dr. Matt Frost (MBA), the Minister for the Marine Environment, Richard Benyon, and Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment in the Scottish Government, will all address the launch.

The 12-page summary Report Card can be accessed at www.mccip.org.uk/ffa.

Detailed peer-reviewed journal papers on all the topics covered in the summary Report Card can be accessed through "Aquatic Conservation - Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems" ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0755).

The MCCIP Secretariat is hosted at Cefas, Lowestoft, and is contactable on 01502 524508 and office@mccip.org.uk.

The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) was launched in March 2005 and is a partnership between scientists, government, its agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry. The principal aim is to provide a co-ordinating framework for the UK, so as to be able to transfer high quality evidence on marine climate change impacts, and guidance on adaptation and related advice, to policy advisors and decision-makers.

MCCIP partner organisations are:

• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland
• Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
• Countryside Council for Wales
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland
• Environment Agency
• International Union for Conservation of Nature
• Isle of Man Government
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Marine Scotland Science
• Marine Biological Association - Marine Environmental Change Network
• Marine Institute, Ireland
• Marine Management Organisation
• Natural England
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Scottish Government
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Seaweb
• Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science
• States of Guernsey
• States of Jersey
• UK Met Office
• Welsh Assembly Government

Press enquiries: Stephen Dye (MCCIP Secretariat)  01502 524508

Cefas scientists are due to make major contributions during the 6th World Fisheries Congress (WFC), which takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, 7-11 May 2012.

Cefas provides research and advisory, consultancy and monitoring services to the UK government and other public- and private-sector clients.

Its scientists also hold key positions within international bodies such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which provides detailed advice for European Commissioners and national ministers. The Secretariat for the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) is also delivered by Cefas.

Dr John Pinnegar, Programme Director of Cefas' Marine Climate Change Centre (MC³), sat on the local Organising Committee for the 6th WFC, and says: " Alex Salmond, the First Minister for Scotland, opens the Congress on Tuesday. Later that day there will be a high-level debate about the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, involving UK ministers and representatives from the EU Commission and WWF.

"UK and Scottish Fisheries Ministers, Richard Benyon and Richard Lochhead respectively, will also launch an MCCIP 'special topic' Report Card. This focuses on climate change, fisheries and aquaculture."

John Pinnegar will also be presenting a talk on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and climate change, arguing that changes in seawater temperatures may mean that species shift away from designated protected areas, so MPA boundaries and objectives may need to be more adaptive to such changes in the future.

Other Cefas scientists are chairing major topic areas.

For instance, Dr Simon Jennings co-chairs the "Sustainable fisheries: reconciling conservation objectives" strand, which includes 29 speakers in four sessions over two days. The sessions will explore trade-offs between fish production and the conservation of vulnerable species, habitats and the ecosystem.

Simon Jennings is also involved in seven other talks, ranging from climate change impacts on marine shelf ecosystems to quantifying the recovery rates and resilience of seabed habitats to bottom fishing.

Drs David Righton and Alan Walker are convening a major symposium on the conservation of the global eel fishery. The session will include 50 speakers over three days, with six keynote speakers from around the world, one of whom will give a major conference address.  The Cefas pair are also hosting an IUCN Anguilla (eel) specialist workshop.

David Righton says: "We're really happy with the representation that one small family of fish has attracted, and we hope to spread some crucial messages about eels and about the eeliad project."

Cefas has led the EU's eeliad project, and Cefas scientists were recognised at the 2011 Civil Service Awards for their innovative "flotsam tags", used to track eels' migration to the Sargasso Sea - still a relative mystery.

Throughout the rest of the week there will be a series of debates focusing on standards and certification, illegal fishing and financing sustainable fisheries. Representatives from the fishing industry, food companies, major supermarkets, universities and learned institutes, and specialist non-governmental organisations will attend alongside scientists and policy-makers.

Other Cefas scientists presenting their work include:

Steve Mackinson
Modelling changes in the North Sea ecosystem: showing strong evidence that temperature is an important driver of change in the North Sea, and arguing that modelling must go hand in hand with empirical analysis. Steve Mackinson will also be on hand to represent GAP2, a European fisheries-science project that he leads.

Will Le Quesne
Predicting reference points and trade-offs associated with fishing impacts on biodiversity: providing a preliminary assessment of the extent of trade-offs between fishery yields and the conservation status of a range of demersal fish in the northeast Atlantic ecosystem.

Will Le Quesne will also present a paper on the ecosystem effects of ocean acidification on fisheries: arguing that potential effects require a fuller understanding of the sensitivity of different biological processes across species.

Michael Armstrong, Andrew Payne and Thomas Catchpole
The UK's Fisheries Science Partnership (which Cefas leads):  analysing, amongst other things, whether or not the programme has been successful in improving the engagement of the fishing industry in the science-management process.

Julian Metcalfe
Fish welfare in wild-capture marine fisheries: asking whether this subject is likely to move further up the public agenda.

Sven Kupschus
Exploring the ecosystem approach to fisheries management: arguing that a unified monitoring strategy can improve both fisheries and ecosystem advice, enabling us to distinguish local effects from ecosystem ones.

For a full programme, information about keynote speakers and abstracts of the WFC presentations visit http://www.6thwfc2012.com/scientific-programme/.

All sea anglers who fish from the shore or boats - beginners and experts alike - are invited to participate in the survey, and have a chance to win fishing tackle prizes. Simply click on the project website www.seaangling2012.org.uk and follow the links.

The survey will ask about the number of days anglers fished in different regions, and about the species that were caught. It will also ask how the quality of sea angling has changed over the years.

This first online survey is specifically covering the period January to March 2012, and further surveys will go online in July, October and the following January to cover the rest of 2012.

This is one of several surveys comprising Sea Angling 2012 - information is being collected directly from anglers during their fishing trips all round the coast, and an online survey is also available now on the Sea Angling 2012 website for sea anglers to tell us how much they spend on sea angling and the other benefits they get from the sport. The economic survey is being run by the social research co-operative Substance in collaboration with Cefas and the Universities of Cardiff and Newcastle.

Anglers contributing to these surveys are in with a chance to win rods, reels and tackle vouchers from Daiwa, Shimano, Go Outdoors and Pure Fishing in our quarterly prize draws - see the project website www.seaangling2012.org.uk for details of the prizes available and how to win them.

The Project Manager, Cefas' Mike Armstrong, said: "We are carrying out these online surveys alongside the direct interviews with anglers to help build up a more complete picture of sea angling activity and its economic and social benefits in England.

"Taking part in the surveys is voluntary," he continued, "but we hope that most anglers will participate as they will see the benefits of having evidence that can give sea angling a bigger voice in the development of marine policy. Even if you are just a beginner, or didn't catch much - we still want to hear from you." 

The Sea Angling 2012 project is the biggest-ever survey of the sport in England. The project is being run throughout 2012 by Cefas on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and in collaboration with the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities who are interviewing anglers directly for this project, and by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

Sea Angling 2012 aims to improve the scientific understanding of fish stocks off the English coast and to ensure that the needs of sea angling are represented as effectively as possible in future marine policy development.

Notes to editors

• For more about the aims of the Sea Angling 2012 project, visit its website: www.seaangling2012.org.uk.
• Cefas is the UK's largest and most diverse applied marine science organisation, which operates as an executive agency of Defra. It provides evidence-based scientific advice, manages related data and information, conducts world-class scientific research, and facilitates collaborative action through wide-ranging relationships. For more detail about its range of activities visit www.cefas.defra.gov.uk.
• The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) established in April 2010 and given powers under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA). Its mission is to enable the sustainable development of English seas. More information on the MMO is available from its website http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/

The FSP Steering Group invited ideas from fishermen in December 2011, and those have now been assessed and an initial programme devised.

Skippers and owners of commercial fishing vessels are now being invited to tender to take part in the forthcoming year's FSP research programme, which also includes a desk-based study (FSP 36).

The list of forthcoming projects is:

• FSP 33: North Sea whitefish
• FSP 34: Channel sprats stock assessment
• FSP 35: Monitoring thornback ray movements and assessing stock levels
• FSP 36: Scoping industry approaches to fully documented fisheries

The closing dates for the submission of tenders are:
13 April 2012: Project 33 only
27 April 2012: Projects 34, 35 and 36

For further information and tender documentation please see our FSP pages.

Articles

• Aquaculture News from Seafish
• FAWC Opinions on the welfare of farmed fish and on the welfare of farmed fish at slaughter
• A little memory can go a long way!
• First description of severe gill disease in UK rainbow trout fry associated with an amoeba-like pathogen
• Preventing reproductive development of farmed finfish
• Levercliff report generates 'food for thought'
• The use of rotenone to eradicate Gyrodactylus salaris in Norway
• Non-native species work at Cefas
• Cefas National Reference Laboratory for crustacean diseases
• Crimestoppers - combating illegal importation of fish and theft of angling equipment

Announcements                             

• FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• European Commission
• Marine Management Organisation
• Defra's Aquatic Animal Health and Movements website
• Environment Agency
• Natural Environment Research Council PlanetEarth online
• FISHupdate.com
• Fishnewseu.com
• Humane Slaughter Association
• British Trout Association

Research News

In the Press       

Info File

• The Fish Health Inspectorate and you
• Where to get help and advice
• Useful publications
• Crimestoppers initiative
• The activities of Cefas Weymouth

Covering marine algal biotoxins, the new services are being delivered through Cefas' commercial arm, Cefas Technology Limited (CTL).

Tests are available for all the major shellfish species for:

• Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) toxins
• Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins
• Lipophilic toxins (LT), including those responsible for Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP).

Eating shellfish contaminated with marine biotoxins may pose risks: to individuals' health as well as for the seafood industry.

Bivalve molluscs - such as mussels, oysters and scallops - are "filter feeders". Biotoxins are occasionally produced in naturally occurring algal blooms and they can accumulate in the flesh of bivalve molluscs and some other marine species.

Seafood businesses can limit this risk by testing their products for algal biotoxins, before they're placed on the market or at the point of sale. In addition, using end-product testing (EPT) ensures they are compliant with food safety legislation.

The Cefas Shellfish Testing (CST) service is available to:

• the shellfish industry, food business operators, importers, retailers and restaurants wishing to verify the health status of bivalve shellfish (before harvesting takes place)
• government bodies with food safety responsibilities - in or outside of the UK - which need to test samples for official control purposes to satisfy food safety and import control legislation.

Jason Weeks, Cefas' Business Development Manager for this sector, said: "We have a highly regarded international pedigree here at Cefas, and are well known for the quality and standards we deliver to customers.

"These new commercial services have extended our offering. Ordering the tests online couldn't be simpler. And we offer a range of service level: our standard and premium services give our commercial customers a choice, dependent on the speed at which results are required (from within 1-2 working days to maximum 5 working days)."

Customers can access transaction information - about shellfish sample submission, packaging guidance, terms and conditions, and prices - online at the CTL website.

For technical details about the services offered, visit our relevant CST service pages.

If further information is required, please contact cst@cefas.co.uk / Tel: +44 (0)1305 206600.

The CCRA has reviewed the evidence for over 700 potential impacts of climate change in a UK context. Detailed analysis was undertaken for over 100 of these impacts across 11 key sectors, on the basis of their likelihood, the scale of their potential consequences and the urgency with which action may be needed to address them.

Scientists from Cefas' Marine Climate Change Centre (the MC³) were lead authors for the Marine and Fisheries sector report.

Their detailed analysis has highlighted not only the risks but in some cases potential gains that could result from changing climatic conditions. For instance:

Biodiversity and ecosystems

• There may be serious consequences for the way marine ecosystems function. Rates of "carbon cycling" could divert resources away from seabed species therefore disrupting food webs and, potentially, fisheries.
• A number of species, including certain seabirds and invasive non-native plants and animals, may establish themselves in the UK for the first time while others may disappear.

Marine transport

• Reductions in polar sea ice may affect the habitats for animals and indigenous people that rely on the frozen environment to survive.
• Shrinking sea ice opens up two potentially key shipping routes in the summer: the North West Passage and the North East Passage to the Pacific and Asia. These short-cuts will offer quicker journeys, lower fuel costs and the avoidance of Suez and Panama Canal fees.
• If winter weather becomes rougher around the UK this may cause more frequent disruption to ferry services off of Scotland and across the Irish Sea. Temporary port closures, damage to cargo and increased costs of maintaining navigation channels are other potential outcomes.

Fisheries

• A range of species and ecosystems are vulnerable to ocean acidification, when the seas absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂). There might be serious economic implications for commercial shellfish species in particular.
• Rising sea temperatures may lead to the continuing northwards shift in the distribution patterns of some species of fish and shellfish. This might result in some species becoming more abundant in UK waters, offering new fishing opportunities.
• Climate change may have a negative impact on some species (e.g. cod and haddock) but a positive effect on others (e.g. plaice and sole).

Health and disease

• Contaminated shellfish have been implicated in some outbreaks of the "winter vomiting " norovirus amongst humans. Increased frequency of intense rainfall events caused by climate change may increase sewer-spill frequency and heighten such risks.
• Rising sea temperatures have been associated with increases in illness associated with blooms of naturally occuring but harmful marine algae.

Producing the CCRA has involved a high degree of consultation and review. The independent analysis was funded by UK Government and Devolved Governments and has been delivered through a consortium of organisations led by HR Wallingford.The outputs have been extensively peer-reviewed by scientific and economics experts, an independent international peer-review panel, and have also been scrutinised by the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change.

The outputs provide an evidence base that can be used by central Government and Devolved Administrations in identifying priorities for action and appropriate adaptation measures that will be required to minimise risks to our economy, environment and society. A consultation process for the National Adaptation Programme has also been launched today.

The signing session at the University of Exeter has formalised an existing collaboration between Cefas and the University of Exeter, which already includes lecturing opportunities, student placements and pursuing joint research projects. The alliance agreement is for five years.

Signing the Strategic Alliance
Pictured left to right: Professor Rick Titball, Professor of Molecular Microbiology, University of Exeter; Professor Nick Talbot, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter; Professor Mark Goodwin, Dean of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter; Cefas Chief Executive Dr Richard Judge; and Dr Stephen Irving, Divisional Director, Aquatic Health and Hygience, Cefas

Cefas Chief Executive Dr Richard Judge said: "We're already seeing excellent collaboration between Exeter and Cefas. I'm delighted to be reinforcing this through a longer-term commitment. Bringing our respective strengths together helps us to get even more value from our research capabilities, bringing value to wider society and our scientists alike."

The University of Exeter's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Talbot said: "The collaboration is great news for Exeter. It not only provides access to applied scientific research teams at Cefas, but also provides opportunities for our students and researchers to utilise marine samples collected by Cefas. Importantly, it also enables us to demonstrate the impact of our work to government policy-makers and a range of stakeholders."

Over the past few years the two institutions have worked together in a wide range of areas from jointly teaching on Exeter MSc courses and student participation on scientific marine cruises to joint research projects on ocean acidification, aquatic toxicology and marine organism diseases.

A workshop between the two institutions in 2011 explored a number of areas of mutual interest, including opportunities to develop future bids for research into marine bacteria and human health, chemicals and climate change, marine food, crustacean diseases, and micro-algae.

Dr Judge continues: "Cefas' ability to innovate and to draw together high-quality science from a range of partners is fundamental to the advice we provide for government. The outputs from our alliance with Exeter will influence strategic policy-making and provide insight into a range of topics, from marine climate change impacts to invasive non-native species and human health.

"It will make a difference for society by supporting the long-term prosperity and the well-being of industries, communities and individuals that enjoy and depend on the natural assets found in our marine and freshwater environments."

Notes to Editors:

1. Cefas is the government's foremost source of evidence, applied science and impartial expert advice for marine and closely related aquatic environments.  Operating as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Cefas has an internationally renowned scientific capability developed over more than 100 years. It has two main laboratories, in Lowestoft and Weymouth, and operates out of a number of port offices around the English coastline. Cefas works alongside government and other agencies, both in the UK and internationally, to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone's well-being, health and prosperity. For more about its range of applied marine science visit www.cefas.defra.gov.uk.
2. The University of Exeter is a leading UK university and in the top one percent of institutions globally. It combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter is ranked 9th in The Sunday Times University Guide, 10th in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2012 and 11th in the Guardian University Guide 2012. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 90% of the University's research was rated as being at internationally recognised levels and 16 of its 31 subjects are ranked in the top 10, with 27 subjects ranked in the top 20.
3. The University has over 17,000 students and is developing its campuses in Exeter and Cornwall with almost £350 million worth of new facilities due for completion by 2012. www.exeter.ac.uk
4. For further information or to request pictures or interviews, please contact:

• Anne McClarnon (Cefas): +44 (0)1502 524370 / anne.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk
• Sarah Hoyle (University of Exeter): +44 (0)1392 722062 / s.hoyle@exeter.ac.uk

Cefas' vision is all about making a difference for society, and this year staff at all levels have given their time, skills and personal monetary contributions toward a variety of community projects, charities and good causes.

The "Cefas Connects" scheme encourages staff to share their time and skills for 1-2 days per year, whether alone or in teams, to take part in community activities or to support voluntary and aid organisations.

Activities particularly encouraged are those that:

• support people who work with or on the sea
• are linked to conservation
• help to communicate our science to wider audiences.

Commitments are largely fulfilled through the use of flexible working options, and the more common examples include support as school governors and work with the auxiliary coastguard.

Cefas' Head of External Communications, Anne McClarnon, said: "Christmas may come once a year, but Cefas teams and individuals have been happy to commit to giving for much longer periods. And this year the range of activities has extended, from local community projects to conservation work abroad."

The following list gives a flavour of some of the activities undertaken in the past year:

• Beach cleaning, in Suffolk and Dorset: Cefas staff have supported the Marine Conservation Society's "Adopt a Beach" scheme since 2008. The Suffolk annual statistics are impressive; while our Weymouth-based team has also played their part, collecting 194kg of rubbish over the course of six sessions.
• Crewing for local lifeboats, in Suffolk and Dorset: volunteers for the RNLI respond to a range of May Day signals: from a damaged boat or fires onboard to people overboard. One of the requirements of being a volunteer is that you arrive within minutes of getting a call - quite a commitment.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Our long-standing support was strengthened this year when our teams smashed their target for the Centenary Business Challenge by nearly £2,360. Events ranged from cakes sales, plant stalls, book and DVD exchanges, and the World's Largest Coffee Morning, arguably the first time that such an event was held on a working UK research vessel.
• Broads Authority marsh management: The Locks Lane Marsh, at Geldeston in Suffolk, is home to wildfowl such as snipe and oystercatchers, plus a diverse range of birds and small mammals. The Cefas team created two habitat mounds which will house many insects and small mammals, helping to maintain this habitat.
• Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme: Our volunteers did scientific research; raised awareness among local school children and fishermen, to promote the conservation of whale sharks; and liaised with the Maldivian Government over the establishment of Marine Protected Areas specifically for whale sharks.
• Maintaining the Mincarlo: The Cefas Senior Management Team helped to polish and prepare this historic Lowestoft-built sidewinder fishing trawler for its winter berth.
• Mocrea Hospital exchange: Our volunteer lent practical carpentry and general "handy man" skills to help the patients at this Romanian mental health facility have a better quality of life.
• Buxton Heath Wildlife Group: Our volunteer lent practical conservation support - cutting down small trees and scrub that are continually threatening to overtake this habitat - and recorded the wildlife at this site.

In addition, Cefas teams and individuals raised money for a range of charities through sporting challenges (fun runs, bike rides, marathons, etc), cake sales, raffles and general collections. Funds were raised for Jeans for Genes, Movember, Children in Need, Wear it Pink and Comic Relief, as well as local hospices, various medical conditions and other worthy causes.

As Anne McClarnon says: "'Making a difference for society' is a Cefas mantra that is more than just a Christmas commitment. It's for the long haul."

He will also chair the Cefas Science Advisory Committee, which has an entirely external membership and advises the CMB on the quality and relevance of Cefas' science and technology.

Nicholas Owens succeeds Dr Joe Horwood in both roles, as part of a planned Board succession. Dr Horwood continues his involvement with Cefas as an Emeritus Fellow.

Professor Owens is currently Director of the British Antarctic Survey, having been appointed in 2007. His previous appointments include science leadership roles at Newcastle University and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. His extensive research experience builds on a BSc in Marine Biology from Liverpool University, and a PhD from the University of Dundee where he developed his interests in estuarine and marine biogeochemistry.

Richard Judge, Cefas' Chief Executive, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Nick Owens to the Board. He brings a wealth of relevant experience which is a natural fit for our business and that will add great value to us.

"I would also like to thank Joe Horwood for the enormous difference he has made over many years of valued service. I'm particularly pleased that our links with Joe will continue."

Professor Owens joins sitting NEDs Andy Field, Michael Gates and Sue Sharland on the Board.

Notes to editors

1. Cefas is the government's foremost source of evidence, applied science and impartial expert advice for marine and closely related aquatic environments.  Operating as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Cefas has an internationally renowned scientific capability developed over more than 100 years.
2. The agency employs more than 500 people at two main laboratories (in Lowestoft and Weymouth) and a number of port offices around the English coastline. Cefas works alongside government and other agencies, both in the UK and internationally, to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone's well-being, health and prosperity. For more about its range of applied marine science, visit www.cefas.defra.gov.uk.
3. As an executive agency, Cefas is directly accountable to Parliament through Defra and its Ministers. Its Chief Executive, as Accounting Officer, has personal responsibility and accountability for the organisation and quality of management within Cefas, including its use of public assets. The Chief Executive is supported and challenged by the CMB.
4. The CMB comprises a broadly equal balance of non-Executive and Executive Directors, with a blend of skills, knowledge and experience that enable the Board to discharge its duties and responsibilities. The Board is collectively responsible for the long-term success of the agency. It provides strategic, entrepreneurial leadership for Cefas, within a framework of prudent and effective controls that enable risk to be assessed and managed.
5. The Cefas Science Advisory Committee is chaired by a NED and has an entirely external membership. It gives independent and objective advice to the CMB on the quality and relevance of the agency's science strategy and operations. 

Press contact: Anne McClarnon
Telephone: 01502 524370 / Email: anne.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk

ENDS

In UK waters, recent work by Cefas scientists has revealed an extensive system of rocky ridges in the central English Channel. Previously, the mapped area was thought to contain little or no rock outcrops.

So the mappers were surprised to find a "reef" that is about four times the size of the Isle of Wight. As remarkable as that is, the reef is also important for another reason: it supports a large variety of marine animals. The abundant fauna includes sponges, bryozoans, anemones and sea-squirts.

Markus Diesing, of Cefas' Marine Habitats and Mapping team said: "We used a combination of existing data and new survey information, collected on our research vessel, the Cefas Endeavour, to outline and characterise the area of rock ridges.

"These extend over 1,100 square kilometres of seabed, some 30 kilometres south of the Isle of Wight. The reef rests at depths between 40 and 100 metres below the surface, so it isn't hazardous to shipping."

Multi-beam sonar shows a complex of rock formations exposed at the seabed - with ridges up to 4 metres high - generally running in an east-west direction. Underwater video and seabed photographs reveal the detailed physical nature of the seabed and show the range of animals that live there.

Multi-beam sonar image showing some of the rock ridges in the central English Channel and the path of an ancient river that has cut through them. The scale shows water depth in metres.

The feature, now known as the Wight-Barfleur Reef (PDF), is currently under consideration for protection under the European Union's Habitats Directive as part of a European network of Marine Protected Areas, known as Natura 2000.

This particular discovery has recently been published as a case study in a major new book called Seafloor Geomorphology as Benthic Habitat - GeoHab Atlas of Seafloor Geomorphic Features and Benthic Habitats.

The atlas provides a synthesis of current knowledge in relation to seabed geomorphology as benthic habitat and presents a total of fifty-seven case studies from around the world. 

It seems there is still plenty to explore and discover here on Earth.

Seabed fauna 

1. Sponges (Porifera) are collections of cells that can be organised into a variety of shapes. They live attached to rock and feed by filtering particles out of the water. There are many encrusting forms in the UK, but the massive forms such as the large white or grey "Elephant's Hide" sponge (Pachymatisma johnstonia, not shown in this image) are relatively uncommon.

2. Bryozoans (Ectoprocta) are colonies of "zooids", small individuals about the size of a grain of sugar that are not quite independent from each other. They live in a matrix of individual chambers and different groups of zooids perform different functions for the colony (e.g. feeding, excretion, reproduction). The colonies live attached to rocks and there are many forms in UK waters. The "Hornwrack" (Flustra foliacea) was very common on the rock ridges.

3. Anemones (Actiniaria) are individual soft-bodied animals with a central mouth surrounded by a ring of tentacles armed with stinging cells. They usually live attached to rocks with their tentacles spread wide waiting for prey items to brush into them.

4. Sea-squirts (Ascidiacea) have sac-like bodies with a primitive backbone and are typically about the size of a grape. They live attached to rocks and can be solitary, gregarious (living in groups) or colonial. They pump seawater through their body cavity and filter out tiny particles of food.

At present the level of norovirus in oysters that might lead to actual illness is not yet well defined. There are also still significant knowledge gaps about the transmission of norovirus.

Cefas' study, funded by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), contributes important evidence to inform UK views about norovirus prevalence in oysters across the UK.

Cefas has a long-standing capability in food safety research. In addition, it chairs a working group of the European Committee on Normalisation (CEN) charged with developing a standard method for detecting norovirus in foodstuffs (including bivalve shellfish, such as oysters).

Via its commercial arm, Cefas Technology Ltd, the agency also provides a shellfish testing service to food producers.

David Lees, the lead investigator at Cefas, said: "We wanted to collect data on norovirus in oysters from a representative selection of production areas around the UK. Our aim was to build up an accurate picture of seasonal variation of the levels and prevalence of norovirus in shellfish beds.

"In addition, we investigated relationships between the levels of norovirus and E. coli, and looked at other risk factors such as temperature and population."

Lees continues: "We were fortunate to have excellent co-operation from the oyster producers and from local authority officers in conducting this study. Norovirus is a recognised problem for the sector, and this study provides important baseline data to help the industry and regulators to focus on the key risks."

Over the last decade considerable progress has been made towards the development of sensitive detection methods for norovirus in bivalve shellfish.

All available methods are based on detection of the virus genome using a molecular technique called RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). This is because growing norovirus using routine virological techniques is not possible and immunological methods - used in clinical diagnostics - are not sensitive enough for application in foodstuffs.

One limitation of PCR-based approaches is that the data generated do not differentiate between viable and potentially non-viable viruses. However, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that there is an increased public health risk associated with higher detected virus levels in shellfish.  

Cefas used a standardised method derived from the CEN draft procedure. This uses magnetic extraction to remove viral RNA from shellfish tissues, followed by quantitative RT-PCR. The assay includes a comprehensive suite of controls and has been accredited to ISO 17025 by UKAS.

Results

Once the data were analysed, the prevalence of norovirus in the two oyster species tested was similar, though the techniques used were unable to differentiate between infectious and non-infectious norovirus material within the oysters.

The levels of norovirus varied seasonally, with higher levels and prevalence in samples collected between October and March compared to those obtained between April and September. Several factors may contribute towards the higher levels of norovirus seen during the winter months. This result is consistent with previous studies carried out at Cefas and at other laboratories.

The study found a statistically significant and predictive correlation between E. coli and norovirus levels, and a strong correlation between norovirus contamination and environmental temperatures.

The Cefas team developed a risk scoring system based on existing and recent harvesting area classifications, E. coli contamination profiles, population densities in adjacent areas and reported shellfish-associated outbreaks. The observed correlation between norovirus levels and identified risk factors could improve predictions about norovirus for the future.

Andrew Wadge, Chief Scientist at the FSA, said: "This research is the first of its kind in the UK. The results, along with data from other research, will help us work with producers to find ways to reduce the levels of norovirus in shellfish, and work within Europe to establish safe levels." 

Fact file

• Oysters filter large volumes of water to obtain their food, and any bacteria and viruses that may be in the water can build up within oysters. Good protection against harmful bacteria is offered through controls before and after the commercial harvesting of oysters. However, it can be difficult to remove viruses from live shellfish.
• Re-laying is a purification process used to treat bivalve shellfish. Shellfish are harvested from a contaminated area and moved to clean areas where they are placed on the ocean floor or into containers laid on the ocean floor, or suspended in racks. Re-laying will generally take place for at least two months.
• Depuration is a purification process used commercially and regulated by the FSA. It is commonly used by producers to reduce or eliminate microbiological contamination in oysters and other shellfish. Shellfish are placed in tanks of clean re-circulating seawater and allowed to purge their contaminants over several days (in the UK a minimum purification time of 42 hours is required).
• Norovirus illness can be transmitted from a number of different of sources. This includes person-to-person spread (e.g. via affected food handlers) or from contaminated surfaces and foods such as oysters, soft fruit and produce. Most norovirus infections are thought to be spread from person-to-person rather than from contaminated food.
• High cooking temperatures, such as 90ºC for 90 seconds, are needed to destroy norovirus. It is also rapidly inactivated by chlorine-based disinfectants, so thorough hand washing with soap and water is recommended.

Contents

Readership survey

Articles

• Horse mussel restoration in Strangford Lough
• SAGB annual conference
• ASSG annual conference
• Defra research into the impact of waste water treatment on norovirus in sewage
• Classification monitoring programme for England and Wales - annual review 2010-2011
• Marine Conservation Zone project reaches a milestone
• Oyster production within the multiple uses of estuaries
• ICSR held in UK for first time

Announcements

• Interactive map for marine planning
• Socio-economic study
• Safer shellfish
• Mussel depuration report
• Improved animal welfare
• Project OSYTERECOVER
• Environmental impacts of aquaculture
• Jersey and Normandy lobster snaps up MSC certificate
• Reporting alien and diseased lobsters
• Dutch suspended mussel fishery sustainable
• Dee estuary cockle fishery to be MSC assessed
• Arran marine reserve shows benefits
• New aquaculture centre
• Scottish aquaculture award winners
• Marine science boost for Wales
• Another £560,000 awarded to English fishing industry
• Oyster sales soar
• Golf balls from lobster shells

News from Seafish

• Social media, Project funding, Norovirus, Support

News from the trade associations

• Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB)
• Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG)

Monitoring reports

• Biotoxin monitoring programmes and results for the period 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011

Shellfish statistics

• Shellfish production in the UK in 2010
• World shellfish production
• UK shellfish imports and exports in 2010

Research news

Shellfish in the press

Where to get help & advice

Sanitary assessments, sampling plans and supporting evidence are presented in reports covering specific bivalve mollusc production areas. Reports for selected areas are now available to download from this site.

For more about our work in this area and what we're doing to help deliver food safety, visit our Food Safety section.

The post-incident monitoring guidelines are a key output from the PREMIAM project (Pollution Response in Emergencies: Marine Impact Assessment and Monitoring) which was initiated in 2009.

A comprehensive document, the guidelines provide the principles upon which effective post-spill monitoring and impact assessment in UK waters will be based and is supported by 19 UK government partners. The guidelines cover a wide range of issues including:

• planning surveys
• sampling practices (including handling and storage)
• chemical analysis
• ecotoxicology
• ecological assessment.

Chemical and oil spills in the marine environment remain a significant threat. While large spill incidents remain relatively rare, events such as the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico and, more recently, the grounded container ship Rena in New Zealand show the importance of effective response.

Rapid response, improved preparedness and effective post-incident monitoring and assessment are all key parts of an effective response and these guidelines and other outputs from the project will help to deliver that for the UK.

Cefas' Mark Kirby, the PREMIAM project co-ordinator, says: "The publication of the guidelines marks an important step in our ability to mount effective and co-ordinated post-spill monitoring programmes."

The UK has been no stranger to significant marine incidents, with large spills from the Sea Empress, Braer and MSC Napoli all requiring major post-spill monitoring operations.

Kirby continues: "The size and importance of the offshore oil and gas and shipping industries in the UK means that there is a need for continued vigilance and improvement of post-spill response and monitoring activities.

"The guidelines published today came about because of excellent co-operation among a wide range of UK government departments and agencies, coupled with very positive feedback from both industry and conservation bodies during an extensive consultation period. Such combined effort means that the guidelines provide a credible and widely supported process for any UK response in future."

The PREMIAM project is developing processes whereby expertise, equipment and facilities necessary for effective monitoring of oil and/or chemical spills are identified and engaged. The project also provides a mechanism through which the UK's post-spill monitoring programme is co-ordinated and managed.

Notes to editors

1. PREMIAM is an ongoing project, funded by Defra (the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), with a long-term legacy. It is co-ordinated by emergency-response and impact-assessment experts from Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science). For more about Cefas' expertise, visit www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/.
2. The project has wide support from all UK government departments and agencies involved in post-spill issues. There are 19 UK PREMIAM partners in all, and they engage the scientific and emergency response community in delivering the project's aims.
3. To download the PREMIAM guidelines, visit http://cefas.defra.gov.uk/premiam/guidelines.aspx.
4. For more information about the PREMIAM project, contact premiam@cefas.co.uk or mark.kirby@cefas.co.uk.

The Carpet Sea-squirt grows very quickly. It has been found to carpet whole marine communities in areas that it has invaded, having a significant impact on biodiversity and species richness. It particularly likes to grow on hard surfaces and can become a real problem to marine industries.

It has no impact on human health.

Those work directly in the marine environment should remain vigilant for this and other invasive species. The species description document from the Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS) provides detailed pictures and information about this species' appearance, etc.

For those working along the north Kent coast in particular, please be aware of this issue and take special care to clean, disinfect and preferably dry equipment after use in the area. Hypochlorite has been found to be an effective disinfectant. 

If you find any examples of this species, please report them directly to the NNSS.

We trialled the use of a blog during the North Sea Groundfish Survey in August and September. All the posts from that cruise have been archived on this site, and we will build up a full archive of other cruises over time.

Since the North Sea trial we have worked through the technicalities and protocols, including establishing image formats, a calendar facility, searches via a tag cloud and providing a link to the real-time location of the vessel while at sea. A typical posting is likely to look similar to this. Later on, we hope to add a comment facility, so that followers can comment on posts.

Anne McClarnon, Head of External Communications, said: "We're ready to go live with the next survey, the Irish and Celtic Sea Groundfish Survey, starting this Saturday, the 5th of November. The scientists are really excited. As with the North Sea Groundfish Survey, they hope to be able to explain, and show, why going out to sea is so vital to us.

"In addition, no matter how meticulously well planned the cruises are, the weather or Mother Nature in general throw up some unusual sights, these pilot whales.

"Often we are accompanied on cruises by partners from other agencies and universities, so the vessel usually has a range of scientific disciplines represented onboard. With that in mind, each cruise and evidence collected will be slightly different.

We hope that visitors to our cruise survey blog will get a true sense of what being a scientist at sea is really like, and learn more about the work that we do and why it matters for society."