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Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

   

Alison Sirois, Western Maine Growing Area Program Supervisor (Kittery to Dice Head, Castine)

Meggan Dwyer, Eastern Maine Growing Area Program Supervisor (Dice Head, Castine to Calais)

Introduction

The Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program is administered by the Department's Bureau of Public Health.  It uses the standards outlined in the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) to monitor levels of PSP (“Red Tide”) and other marine biotoxins in the shellfish of the State of Maine.

When toxin is found at levels near or above where human illness may occur, closures to the harvest of shellfish areas are implemented. Maine has historically had high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP), more commonly known as “Red Tide” during the warmer periods of the year. Shellfish samples are collected statewide between March and October and evaluated at the two PSP laboratories (Boothbay Harbor, in the western portion of the state and Lamoine, in the eastern portion). Data is then interpreted and appropriate closures are made when necessary.

News     (updated April 23, 2013)

The DMR Bureau of Public Health Biotoxin Program plans to upgrade testing techniques to a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for most species of bivalve shellfish (clams, mussels, oysters etc). The program is also considering changes to its sampling strategy including creating regional mussel closures during the height of the biotoxin season and maintaining exception areas for wild and recreational mussel harvest.

For more information, please contact Alison Sirois at 633-9401 or Meggan Dwyer.

Some of the links below are PDF files, and require Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader (download here).  If you require an alternate format, please contact Michelle Mason Webber.

Forms

Sampling MOU for Industry (60 KB, pdf)

PSP Sample Protocol (131 KB, pdf)

Field Sheet (12 KB, pdf)

FDA Laboratory Evaluation

• 2008 Biotoxin Lab Evaluation Report (337 KB, pdf)
• 2008 BBH Biotoxin Shellfish Lab Evaluation Checklist (411 KB, pdf)
• 2008 Lamoine Biotoxin Shellfish Lab Evaluation Checklist (414 KB, pdf)

Federal Grant Reports

• Maine Red Tide Disaster Relief:  Inshore Sentinel Buoys and Quantitative Phytoplankton Monitoring Program (2007 to 2009)

For More Information

• Information regarding what, if any, areas along the coast of Maine are currently closed to the taking of shellfish because of “Red Tide” may be obtained by calling the RED TIDE HOTLINE at 1-800-232-4733. or by visiting the red tide and shellfish sanitation hotline web page or the PSP (red tide) closures page.
• More information about Red Tide and Harmful Algal Blooms

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