asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give a detailed account of the reported number of shell fish contaminations which occurred in 1989; the reasons in each case; and the preventive action which has been taken by his Department.
Written Answers. - Shell Fish Contaminations.
31.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the contamination of shellfish which occurs as a result of marine algal blooms. I propose to deal with the Deputy's question in tabular format. The table, which I will make available to the House, lists all incidents of shell fish contamination recorded in 1989 in the course of the Shellfish Monitoring Programme carried out by the Fisheries Research Centre. The cause of contamination in each case was algal bloom, and in all incidents where toxicity levels posed a threat to human health, the regional health board was advised.
The contaminations indicated in the table were caused by the occurrence of phytoplankton in the water; this is a natural phenomenon which may not be prevented. When it occurs, the objective is to protect human health by means of a thorough monitoring programme.
Incidents of shellfish toxicity recorded in 1989.
|
Location |
Dates of Tests |
|
Bantry, County Cork. |
6 and 27 June; 4 and 18 July; 22 August. |
|
Glengariff, County Cork. |
6, 13, 20 and 27 June; 4, 11, 18 and 25 July. |
|
Roaringwater Bay, County Cork. |
20 and 27 June; 11 July; 9, 15 and 22 August. |
|
Dunmanus Bay, County Cork. |
13, 20 and 27 June; 25 July; 1, 9 and 22 August. |
|
Castleownbere, County Cork. |
27 June. |
|
Rosscarbery, Co. Cork. |
9 August. |
|
Kilmakillogue, County Cork. |
4, 18 and 25 July; 1 and 23 August. |
|
Kilcrohane, County Cork. |
27 June. |
|
Ardgroom, County Cork. |
27 June; 4, 18 and 25 July. |
|
Sneem, County Kerry. |
11 July. |
|
Turk Head, County Kerry. |
25 July; 15 August. |