7.2.2.3 Marine biotoxin control
Phytoplankton monitoring is a valuable complementary tool that can
be used in combination with the required monitoring of marine
biotoxins in shellfish tissue to optimize programme management and
resources. Growing areas should also be monitored for environmental
signals that a toxin event may be occurring, e.g. dead or dying birds,
mammals or fish. The risk of blooms of toxic algae may show seasonal
variability and areas may also be affected by toxic algae previously
unknown in the surrounding sea or coastal waters. These risks should
be recognized when drawing up monitoring schedules.