Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Intensifies Management of 'Shellfish Toxins' in Spring

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 17th that it has established and will implement the '2022 Shellfish Toxin Safety Investigation Plan' to ensure the safe supply of shellfish.

Shellfish toxins mainly begin to occur from March, centered around the southern coast, and then spread to the eastern and western coasts. Consuming shellfish and tunicates such as clams, sea squirts, and sea pineapples that contain shellfish toxins can cause risks such as muscle paralysis, memory loss, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to expand the number of investigation points from 109 during the same period last year to 113 from March to June, when shellfish toxins spread intensively, and conduct investigations once every 1 to 2 weeks. From July, when shellfish toxins disappear, to February of the following year, monthly sample investigations will be conducted at 84 major investigation points to continuously manage safety.

If the safety investigation results detect shellfish toxins exceeding the standard level, the water area within the investigation points will be designated as a 'Shellfish Shipment Prohibited Area,' and for producers wishing to ship shellfish from the prohibited area, only shellfish that meet the standards after prior investigation will be allowed to be shipped.

Choi Hyun-ho, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, urged, "Since shellfish toxins are not removed even when shellfish are heated or cooked, special caution must be taken to avoid arbitrarily harvesting and consuming shellfish in areas exceeding the shellfish toxin standard level."

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