The Marine Institute in conjunction with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Irish Farmers Association Aquaculture (IFA) will host a Shellfish Safety Workshop at its headquarters in Rinville, County Galway, on the 17th October 2023. This will be the 12th in the series of workshops which commenced in 2000, with the last one held in October 2019.
This one-day event is an opportunity for everyone working in the areas of shellfish aquaculture and food safety and to meet and discuss the current issues, latest trends and patterns, and the latest research advances in the field. The workshop welcomes participation from the shellfish industry, regulators, scientists, and researchers.
The principle aims of this workshop are:
- To continue our strong working relationship and communication with the Irish shellfish industry and state agencies in the promotion of high quality and safe shellfish, through presentations, discussions, and debate and to generate key questions and potential areas for future research.
- Review current and future direction of our monitoring programmes and shellfish safety systems, to continually adapt to challenges to ensure we can support and enhance aquaculture sustainability and food safety into the future.
- Continue to build a shared understanding and interpretation of food safety risks arising from biotoxin and microbiological contamination, to support risk management decisions and provision of scientific advice.
- Present recent and ongoing key research which benefits and supports the shellfish aquaculture industry and regulators; and to encourage national and international scientific collaboration with industry, state agencies, researchers, and academic institutions.
The day will include keynote presentations from international colleagues on developments of key importance to shellfish safety in Ireland. In addition, there will be updates and findings presented from national monitoring and research programmes for phytoplankton, biotoxins and microbiological contamination. A presentation on the microbiological classification of shellfish production areas will be provided by the SFPA.
This in person event will have a poster session and exhibition stands providing an opportunity for further discussion and to meet with representatives and colleagues from a variety of state agencies, academic and research institutions, and the shellfish industry in an informal environment.
If you are interested in attending, please register via https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/12th-shellfish-safety-workshop-tickets-689215822077
For further information on this event, please contact: sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie.
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About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie
About the Marine Institute
The Marine Institute provides government, public agencies, and the maritime industry with a range of scientific, advisory, and economic development services that inform policy-making, regulation, and the sustainable management and growth of Ireland’s marine resources. The Institute undertakes, coordinates, and promotes marine research and development, which is essential to achieving a sustainable ocean economy, protecting ecosystems, and inspiring a shared understanding of the ocean www.marine.ie