Barrento, S., 2013, MusselsAlive has been carrying out trials with Scottish rope grown mussels, The Grower: Newsletter for the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers Mar 13, 10. Barrento, S., 2013, MusselsAlivetested low flow in Scottish depuration system, The Grower: Newsletter for the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers Mar 13, 11.

1. The Grower — 1
The GrowerNewsletter for the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers
March 2013
Chairman’s
Column
2,3
FSA Scotland 4,5
News items 6,7
News from Oz 8
MusselsAlive 10
Shellfish in
Holland
12
Oysterecover 15
INSIDE THIS 20
PAGE ISSUE
The Grower is
distributed to all
members of the
ASSG and is also
available online at
www.assg.org.uk
Why don’t you
consider advertising
to our specialist
readership?
The Grower is a quarterly newsletter edited by Janet H. Brown, The Shellfish Team, 2
Annfield Grove, Stirling, FK8 2BN jan.brown@dsl.pipex.com
For membership of ASSG contact Chairman: Walter Speirs, Muckairn Mussels, Achnacloich, Connel,
Argyll, PA37 1PR walter.speirs@btconnect.com
For further information see our web site at www.assg.org.uk
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official
view of the Association
Advertising
Workshop on oyster herpes
virus and biosecurity in Oban
Dutch mussel
processing
16
News from
Neogen
18
USA ICSR
conference
19
In the last issue of the Grower a mussel wreath on the front cover drew many
favourable comments. So there may be a call for “shellfish in art” photographs in the
Grower. When confronted by 6 sterling silver George IV cruets made up of a
magnificent crab resting on whelk shells surrounded by various shellfish and resting on
three shell feet they seemed to present an irresistible subject for this slot. The original
was made by Robert Garrard and the other 5 by Sebastian Crespell in 1820 and they are
housed at the Fishmongers’ Hall, London Bridge. Two are pictured above.
Shellfish Culture
Two of the speakers and a publication
below that will inform the workshop, - on
the left Fabrice Richez and on the right
Martin Flanigan who will be speaking
together with Michael Gubbins and Mar
Marcos-Lopez at the ASSG workshop/
AGM. See page 15 for full details. Please
book as soon as you can.

2. The Grower — 2
Chairman’s Column
Walter Speirs, chairman of Association of Scottish
Shellfish Growers
Spring is nearly upon us, my favourite time of
year! It is so nice to see the daffodils emerging,
and the whole garden is just poised waiting to burst
into life. Before the dreaded Trossulus appeared
this was always a time of frantic activity, trying to
get all of our spat collectors in. Sadly no more, but
maybe next year....
Before I start listing my activities since the last
issue I would like to remind you that the Annual
General Meeting of ASSG will take place in Oban,
on the 16th
April. The venue will be decided once
we have an indication of numbers. Prior to the
AGM there will be a workshop about oyster herpes
virus, and biosecurity in general. This has been
arranged following a request from members at the
AGM last year, so I am hoping for a good turnout!
Seafish have kindly offered to fund the event, so
thanks are due to Craig Burton for arranging this.
Another date to get in the diary now is our
annual conference, 2nd
and 3rd
October, again in
Oban. Any suggestions for speakers or topics
would be welcome.
So on to the list of meetings.
It has been suggested that Scotland should have
an Aquaculture Innovation Centre, and I attended a
meeting in Perth on 16th
January to discuss the
possibilities. It’s early days yet, but should it go
ahead then there will be another route to research
for our sector. Only snag is that matched funding
will be required, and ASSG has no funds to
provide that, unlike the salmon and trout
associations. I’ll keep you posted.
On 18th
January I attended a meeting regarding
EMFF, the funding which will replace EFF from
2014 onwards. It is good to have an input at this
stage, helping to shape the guidance proposals, and
ensuring that the needs of our sector are not
overlooked.
I spent the first week of February in Holland (at
my own expense!) participating in a workshop
focused on regeneration of native oyster stocks
across Europe. As you probably know I am
interested in setting up a hatchery in Scotland, and
part of this trip was a visit to a hatchery. It was
encouraging to see that there is nothing to be
frightened about regarding the technology required
to set one up. Our Editor Janet was also there, so
no doubt there will be a report elsewhere in the
Grower. One interesting point to note was that
many years ago the Dutch oyster beds were re-
populated using stock from the Firth of Forth!
13th
February and it was back to Victoria Quay
in Edinburgh for a meeting about the progress of
the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill through
Parliament. As you may expect, most of the
heated debate is around the relationship between
the salmon angling sector and salmon farmers.
The part of the Bill which applies to us seems to
be fairly widely accepted, so I hope we will have
the protection we need for our shellfish growing
waters, as proposed in the Bill.
Same day, I met with Joyce Carr, who is
organising a new group forming out of the
Shellfish Forum and the Aquaculture and
Fisheries Bill, to co-ordinate how we address the
relationship between shellfish flesh quality and
water quality. Membership will include FSAS,
SEPA, Scottish Water, Scottish Government and
industry. This group should be very helpful as we
try to align standards between Shellfish Growing
Waters and Shellfish Harvesting Waters, assuming
the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill goes ahead as
planned.
On Valentine’s Day a meeting was held at
Cairndow in an attempt to identify barriers to
growth in the shellfish sector. This group is a sub-
group of the Shellfish Forum, specifically
focusing on areas that could potentially be suitable
for shellfish cultivation. I’m sure those present
would agree that there was plenty energy round
the table, but not a great deal of consensus as to
how we progress further. One outcome was that a
questionnaire be sent out to existing leaseholders,
so you have no doubt seen this by now. Thank you
very much to the two individuals who have
responded, I hope more of you will do likewise
soon!
When I say that I was back in Victoria Quay

3. The Grower — 3
again on 22nd
February for the Marine Strategy
Forum you could be excused for thinking that I
spend too much time there! However, it is where
decisions are made about the future, and I feel I
have to be there to ensure our sector is not
overlooked. As aquaculture moves into what was
the Common Fisheries Policy there are both threats
and opportunities. The current structure for
engaging with Brussels will move from the various
Working Groups (which include EMPA) to the
proposed Aquaculture Advisory Council, which at
present seems to be an unworkable option. The
debate continues as to how it will function. I hope
to have an update next week at the UK
Aquaculture Forum in Cardiff.
On Sunday 24th
I left home for the long journey
to Vigo in Spain for the second last meeting of the
BEADS project. I must say that this has been a
very interesting project, identifying bacteria that
consume algal toxins, and a method of delivering
these bacteria to the shellfish in a way that allows
them to be depurated. Whether it will be
financially viable or not remains uncertain, but it is
theoretically possible. However, the most
interesting part of the trip was a visit to Vigo port,
which is massive! We visited several shellfish
holding units, and a depuration plant. Depuration
time is 11 hours, using water purified using
chlorine. Simple, clean and efficient. Where did we
go wrong with our interpretation of EU Directives?
As you may expect I was eating shellfish a lot, and
it was all delicious, no negative after effects, or
taste of chlorine!
7th
of March I was back at Cairndow for our
ASSG management committee meeting. ASSG is
very fortunate to have members who are willing to
give their time free of charge to further the aims of
your association. One of the challenges for me is
working in isolation, and the committee are both
supportive and challenging, which is very
important. One issue which has not gone away
during my time in this post is our core funding. We
are surviving on a wing and a prayer, which is not
sustainable. We will no doubt discuss this at the
AGM.
Final meeting for this report was the Marine
Protected Areas Working Group, which I was
asked to be part of, and was happy to accept. Again
at Victoria Quay, on 8th
March. Surprisingly I will
need to sign a Confidentiality Agreement, meaning
I cannot reveal any of the draft papers to you,
unless you sign it also! Rest assured I will fight our
corner, working to ensure that shellfish cultivation
will be a permitted activity in an MPA.
That’s it for now, please come to the workshop
and the AGM!
Best Wishes,
Walter
ASSG Subscriptions
If you have not yet paid, subscriptions
are now due.
Growers £250
Associates £100
Application forms are downloadable
from the web site and this will tell you
how you can pay. Find the web site at
www.assg.org.uk
Many thanks to those members who
have paid promptly

4. The Grower — 4
1. EU Audit of shellfish controls
As readers may be aware, the Food and Veterinary
Office (FVO) of the European Commission carried out
an audit of UK official controls of Live Bivalve
Molluscs (LBMs) in April 2012. The final FVO report
was issued on 10 October 2012 and is available on the
Commission’s website at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/
fvo/index_en.cfm.
Whilst the focus of the audit was on how the Food
Standards Agency and local authorities apply controls
relating shellfish, the audit team also noted a number of
issues for food businesses and harvesters. The FSA has
asked local authorities to check that the issues listed are
being addressed by businesses. The areas to be
addressed include:
Registration documents
An original registration document (not a copy) must
accompany batches of LBMs from point of harvesting
up to and including the arrival of the batch at a dispatch
centre or processing establishment.
Food business operators (FBOs) must only accept
batches of LBMs if they are accompanied by original
documentation with the relevant information. The
registration document must be completed fully in
English to enable each batch to be traced to source.
Registration documents accompanying products
destined for other Member States are required to be in
the language of the receiving country.
The accuracy of information provided on registration
documents must be verified by FBOs on receipt of
batches of LBMs. Official control LBM monitoring
data is available on the Food Standards Agency website
and information contained on registration documents
can be cross referenced with that which is published.
End-product testing
FBOs will already be aware that LBMs placed on the
market must meet the end product standards laid down
in EU Hygiene Regulations. The Regulations do not
prescribe a frequency for end product testing, but this
should be in line with the business’s food safety
management system. There are a number of kits and
tests available and information on them has been
provided by the FSA at the following link:
www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/
endproducttestshellfishtoxin.pdf
FSA in Scotland has requested that enforcement
officers carry out assessments of risk management
procedures applied by food business and their system of
“own checks”. Where it is identified that they are
insufficient to ensure the product is safe, immediate
remedial action will be instigated.
HACCP procedures in approved
establishments
For shellfish purification systems food business
operators should be able to demonstrate that the critical
controls in the depuration system have been identified
and that the risks are being managed in accordance with
the written procedures they have developed. These
procedures must be based on the HACCP principles and
that any documents describing the procedures developed
are up-to-date at all times for inspection by enforcement
officers.
2. Biotoxin and Phytoplankton
Trigger Levels
From January 2013, the FSA in Scotland has
introduced biotoxin ‘trigger levels’ due to the change in
monitoring frequency from weekly to monthly in
January and February (for lipophilic toxins) and on an
area by area basis for ASP and PSP. In general where
monitoring frequencies are less than weekly, additional
monitoring will be required when a Biotoxin or
Phytoplankton ‘trigger level’ is breached. Breach of a
‘trigger level’ (detection of toxins in a flesh sample at a
level above the half of the regulatory limit - see levels
below for all three groups of toxins) will prompt
collection of an additional flesh sample. Phytoplankton
‘trigger levels’ will also remain in place:
Biotoxin & Phytoplankton flesh ‘trigger levels’:
These will be reviewed for the start of 2014.
3. Minor revisions to FSAS Biotoxin
Risk Assessment from April 2013
FSAS have made minor revisions to sampling and
analysis frequencies (for ASP and PSP) for certain
pacific oyster areas. This followed a statistical analysis
of data using models previously applied to mussel areas
and it will apply from April. Further details regarding
those areas monitored exclusively using pacific oysters
Important update from FSA Scotland
ASP ≥ 10mg Domoic/epi-Domoic acid per kg shell-
fish flesh
Pseudo-nitzschia ≥50,000 cells/litre of Pseudo-
nitzschia
Lipophilic toxins : OA/DTX/PTX≥80 µg per kg shell-
fish flesh
AZA≥80 µg
YTX≥0.5mg
Dinophysis ≥100 cells/litres of Dinophysis
Prorocentrum lima (P.lima) ≥100 cells/litres of P.
lima
PSP ≥400µg STX eq. per kg shellfish flesh

5. The Grower — 5
have been sent to sampling officers and further details
are available from FSAS.
4. Change to the recording of
Unverified E. coli samples – from
February 2013
In April 2012 we asked that samples which were
collected by harvesters be noted as ‘unverified’ on the
sample form – with no OS grid reference attached .
However it has since been identified that not recording
OS grid references for unverified E. coli samples can
impact on the data used for sanitary surveys and
ultimately on the findings of the report itself. For sites
where E. coli samples are collected by harvesters for
official control purposes, FSAS now require the actual
location of sampling to still be recorded where possible
as an OS grid reference.
Dormant status
Current FSAS’ guidance advises that where a
sampling officer has intelligence that there is no
prospect of harvesting in the medium to long term (6
months) they should immediately discuss options for
future sampling plans with FSAS for placing the area
into a ‘dormant status’. The harvester should be made
aware that the FSAS requires two clear biotoxin samples
(a minimum of one week apart) below the regulatory
action level prior to harvesting recommencing. The
sampling officer will continue to collect E. coli samples
from the production area to ensure that classification is
maintained. Linked to this the Agency has a programme
of sanitary surveys with Cefas commissioned which will
survey all production areas by the end of 2015. Before
survey work commences FSAS needs to know that the
areas concerned will be commercially viable in order to
target resources appropriately. Some harvesters will
already have been contacted about their harvesting
intentions by local authorities. The same question will
be asked of all harvesters who have not had a survey or
may not be harvesting for other reasons. The provision
of this intelligence by harvesters helps the FSA use its
resources effectively.
5. Fast Track Classifications
Current FSAS’ guidance on classification does not
specify the number of samples required before a ‘fast-
track’ classification is awarded.
From April 2012 FSAS confirmed that a minimum of
4 samples should be collected, 1 week apart prior to ‘fast
track’ classification. Provided all 4 samples return ‘A’ or
‘B’ results, a ‘fast track’ classification will be awarded.
Should any of these samples return a ‘C’ result, then a
‘fast track’ classification will not be awarded and the
applicant must submit a standard classification
application form should they wish to fish from the area.
As per existing guidance, monthly samples must be
submitted for the 4 month duration of the ‘fast track’
award to maintain the classification. Again, if a ‘C’
result is received during the 4 month period or the
required samples are not submitted, the classification is
immediately rescinded.
6. Biotoxin text alerts to mobile
phone
For a few years now the FSA had discussed
proposals that would provide a real time biotoxin alert
system direct to mobile phones for anyone wishing to
receive such a service. With advances in technology
that time has now come! FSAS propose to manage a
twitter account – FSASBiotoxins – which will be used
as a one-way text alert service for anyone with an
interest in ‘actionable’ Scotland biotoxin results.
You do not need to use Twitter or have a computer
to use this service.
Twitter allows for subscribers on 02, Orange, Three,
and Vodafone networks to subscribe to a twitter feed.
This feed would post only those results that are over the
maximum permitted level for biotoxins, or those results
that otherwise re-open an area. This would provide a
means of shortening communication lines between
FSAS, local authorities and shellfish harvesters. It
would also simply mirror, in shorthand, emails that are
currently sent out to interested parties, by FSAS on a
daily basis.
How to subscribe/unsubscribe
If you are on the Orange, Vodafone, 02 or 3
networks, and wish to subscribe, all you need to do is
text:
“follow FSASBiotoxins” to 86444
You should only be charged the cost of routine texts
under your existing mobile payment plan, but please do
check and confirm for yourself. You do not need a
smart phone to receive this service.
If you wish to stop these texts coming through, text:
“off@FSASBiotoxins”
This service does not replace the traditional and
more detailed email notifications that will continue to
issue from the Food Standards Agency in Scotland
office and is intended as a summary text service only.
This will start in the first week in March. Feedback
from users would be welcome by the end of July.
Jennifer Howie
Head of Shellfish Unit
Food Safety, Monitoring and Policy Branch
Food Standards Agency in Scotland
St Magnus House
Aberdeen
AB116NJ
Tel: 01224 285157
Mob: 07990788501
www.eatwellscotland.org

6. The Grower — 6
Please note that
registrations for
APA13 will include attendance to the IOS5, so simply
register for APA13. Abstract submission is also via the
APA13 submission process. When prompted indicate
that the abstract is intended for "oysters" or note IOS5 in
the "special sessions" category. To qualify for Member
Rate, we encourage you to join our society.
All of the Information including the deadlines for
registrations is now available on APA13 website.
www.was.org/WasMeetings/meetings/Default.aspx?
code=APA2013
We look forward to welcoming you in Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam in December.
Secretariat The World Oyster Society (WOS)
www.worldoyster.org/index_e.html
We are pleased to inform you that the 5th
International Oyster Symposium (IOS5) is being held in
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 10-13, 2013.
The theme for the conference is "Positioning for Profit".
The IOS5 is being held jointly with Asian Pacific
Aquaculture 2013 (APA13) in the same venue, Saigon
Exhibition and Convention Center. This conference will
enable academics, researchers and farmers from all over
the world to present research and skills in each oyster
session.
This two day event will feature keynote addresses as
well as oral and poster presentations. WOS encourages
presentations by young researchers and based on the
presentations made, the society will present young
researcher awards.
In addition to the scientific program, there will be
opportunities for all participants to network with
colleagues through the conference.
Dates for your diary:
Shellfish Association of Great Britain
Annual Conference
Fishmongers’Hall, London Bridge
21-22nd May 2013
Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers
Annual Conference
Corran Halls, Oban
2-3rd October 2013
World Oyster Society Meeting
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,
December 10-13, 2013
Contact details
Editor Janet H Brown, 2 Annfield Grove,
Stirling, FK8 2BN
jan.brown@dsl.pipex.com
Chairman: Walter Speirs, Muckairn Mussels,
Achnacloich, Connel, Argyll, PA37 1PR
walter.speirs@btconnect.com
Treasurer
Stephen Cameron, stephenc@scottishshellfish.co.uk
Other members of management committee;-
David Attwood david.attwood@lochfyne.com
Nick Turnbull nick.iomo@btinternet.com
Cree MacKenzie ‎.. cree@scaliscro.co.uk
Tristan Hugh-Jones.. tristan@oysters.co.uk
Congress available at www.oysterworldcongress2012.com/
le-congres/photos-2
The presentations are also all available at
www.oysterworldcongress2012.com/telechargements/
telechargements-2/?lang=en
There is also at the same location a complete summary
of the Congress prepared by the rapporteurs and
chairmen of each session which provides a very useful
overview of the proceedings. Take a look!
The 5th International Oyster Symposium
News from the World Oyster Society re forthcoming
meeting in Vietnam December 2013
Many of the members of the ASSG who receive this
newsletter as a hard copy, and even more of the folk
who receive the newsletter via the ASSG web site and
mailing list (see www.assg.org. uk ) attended the Oyster
World Congress in Arcachon in December 2012. They
may like to revive happy memories by viewing the very
nice video available at
www.oysterworldcongress2012.com/le-congres/video/?
lang=e
Many readers can indeed to be seen on the video!
There is also a collection of 55 photographs from the
2012 Oyster World Congress, Arcachon

7. The Grower — 7
Rope grown mussels from the Scottish Shellfish
Marketing Group enjoyed a great reception from
consumers during Sainsbury’s recent ‘Switch the Fish’
campaign.
During the initiative, the supermarket gave away
free samples of less popular types of seafood to anyone
who bought one of the ‘big five’ eating varieties of cod,
haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns. Scottish rope grown
mussels was one of the alternative types of seafood
selected for the free sample give-away, and according to
Rob Mitchell of SSMG, they went down a treat with
shoppers.
“The Switch the Fish campaign was a great success
and it really highlighted to consumers the fantastic taste
of mussels and their simplicity in cooking,” he says.
“The feedback we have had from Sainsbury’s was very
positive and we are hopeful that this campaign will have
played an important role in ensuring that consumers
broaden their horizons when purchasing seafood.
“We are particularly proud of the sustainability
credentials of our Scottish rope-grown mussels, which
also seems to appeal to consumers.”
SSMG mussels are independently certified by both
the Marine Stewardship Council and the Friend of the
Sea for the environmentally-friendly manner in which
they are grown.
More information on SSMG at
www.scottishshellfish.co.uk
Switch the Fish campaign a big success for
Scottish mussels
Shellfish Work
Experience
Could you offer students shellfish industry
experience? The Institute of Aquaculture, University of
Stirling are creating a directory of hosts willing to offer
students work experience. The directory will be
available to students registered on aquaculture courses
via the University web system. The idea is that
interested students could get in touch with a contact at
the host organisation to ask if it might be possible to
undertake a work experience placement at a mutually
convenient time and period. Placements would be
during the student’s holidays and would be carried out
on an entirely voluntary basis.
From the students perspective such work experience
provides opportunity to gain invaluable skills and
knowhow and they will hopefully be more proficient
and desirable employees of the future. Taking students
on for placements will hopefully also be advantageous
to hosts, as students will be expected to work hard and
fully contribute to the work environment during their
visits.
The Institute is keen to represent all aspects of the
shellfish industry within the directory. If you are
interested in becoming a host please contact Jessica
Mehers at j.j.mehers@stir.ac.uk

8. The Grower — 8
Notes from ‘Down Under’
Doug McLeod
Editor, Australian SeaFOOD Magazine;
Managing Director, Glenelg Shellfish, - Aquaculture Consultants
This Sunday marks both St Patrick’s Day and the
start of the ICMSS 2013 event in Sydney, which
somehow feels appropriate (not sure why – I’ll think
about that on the plane!). The Conference looks like
being a success, with Registrations exceeding 200
delegates from over 20 countries, a series of interesting
topics with well known speakers (and some new faces
too!) and two practical Workshops as well as a Field
Trip to an oyster producing area (the Hawkesbury
River).
I shall be delivering a presentation on ‘Adding
value throughout the supply chain, which will be my 6th
presentation to an ICMSS audience, 7th
if I include the
‘unofficial’ meeting held in Port Clear, Alabama, two
weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit the southern USA.
My thesis is that there are a multitude of ways to add
value to molluscan shellfish – this means raising
quality, improving safety, enhancing freshness and
expanding the consumer experience of shellfish.
The ways to add value range across the supply
chain, from production improvements (technical,
genetic, etc), optimised transport (appropriate
containers, temperature and percussion monitoring, etc)
and appropriate market focussed processing (half shell
oysters, fully prepared mussels in sauces, etc) to retail
presentation and promotion.
Collaboration between scientists, regulators and
industry is a major way to add value to our products, as
safety – in terms of absence of bacteria, vibrio, viruses,
heavy metals, etc - must rank high on priorities for
consumer satisfaction!
I will report on the Conference experience in the
next issue of The Grower!!
The Ninth International Conference on Molluscan
shellfish safety is being held from 17-22 March 2013 at
the Bayview Hotel in Sydney. The full programme can
be downloaded from the conference website-
www.icmss2013.com/program.html

9. The Grower — 9
President of CNC resigns
M. Goulven Brest, the President of the Comité
Nationale de la Conchyliculture,(CNC) the very much
larger French equivalent of the ASSG, has written a 6
page letter of resignation to M. Frederic Cuvillier,
Junior Minister for Transport and the Marine Economy
in the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable
Development and Energy. After 15 years as President,
and having been re-elected in June 2010, he expressed
considerable frustration at the lack of protection for
shellfish waters. Another concern was promotion of
triploid oysters by researchers in Ifremer while many of
the French industry are opposed to their use and a
general dissatisfaction with lack of practical support
with dealing with their oyster disease problems. His
resignation will be effective from June 19th
2013 when
the next council meeting takes place.and when election
of a new president among the CNC membership will
also takes place. The CNC is the representative body
for all shellfish sector operators (production-market)
and it is created by a French law. All shellfish growers
are obliged to be members of CNC , and its
membership totals 4583 persons exploiting “parcs”.
Goulven Brest, President of the CNC at the World
Oyster Congress in Arcachon last December

10. The Grower — 10

11. The Grower — 11

12. The Grower — 12
Shellfish innovations in Holland
Janet H Brown reports
A chance meeting at the NACE/ICSR joint
aquaculture conference in Mystic, Connecticut last
December (for report see page 19) led to a highly
instructive day’s visit to Yerseke, Holland tied in with
the visit to the native oyster hatchery workshop
organised by Oysterecover (see page 15). The chance
encounter was with Marco Huissen, technical adviser of
Murre Techniek b.v. as we took a field trip to a mussel
processing plant in Rhode Island. He suggested that if I
was impressed there, I should see the Dutch version.
But Marco had also very generously arranged a number
of other very interesting visits which I can share with the
Grower readership!
Inland shellfish farming
The first visit was to an inland shellfish farm. Why
an inland shellfish farm? It may be indicative of the
huge pressures the Dutch shellfish industry have felt
themselves under that radical efforts were needed and
this was one of the major shellfish processors, Prins &
Dingemanse’s many forward-planning attempts to
secure their future supplies of shellfish. The Dutch
shellfish industry has a long history that relies on
dredging bottom seed mussels and transferring them to
the growers’ own plots for ongrowing. Pressure against
this seed collection has been growing over recent years
and it is now forbidden from the intertidal areas and is
due to be fully outlawed from any part of the sea bed by
2020. This inland farm, Zeeland Aquaculture, was set up
5 years ago in partnership with Roem van Yerseke, and
it is still at research stage.
Ronald de Vos, the Aquaculture manager for Prins &
Dingemanse showed me around in pouring rain. He said
that nothing shows you quite how much is done for you
in the sea as when you try to reproduce it on land. They
have so far learnt a lot on controlling water quality. The
biggest problem for them, as you might well imagine, is
providing enough algae and initially they planned to buy
algae from off-site. They couldn’t find anyone to supply
the amount or the particular species they required
however so they have developed their own system such
that they can now produce it at a very good cost price.
They started culturing 26 different species of algae but
they have now settled on 5 – (but are not telling anyone
which ones!). What is also crucial is the level of algae
supplied. This is something well known from old
shellfish research, that manipulating levels of feed can
affect what type of growth oysters display, and at
Zeeland Aquaculture they can manipulate the level of
algae to best suit just growth or best conditioning –
again this is their IP and they are not volunteering (yet)
the information which has been so expensively
obtained.
In the tanks/ponds they grow Pacific oysters and
Manila clams but native oysters also do well in the
system. The Pacifics go from first stocking to market
size in 15-19 months and surprisingly this growth rate
is much the same for the native flat oyster. Ronald said
that it is generally thought that oysters will not grow
below a certain temperature; they find however that
since they are providing the food they do still grow
even when it is really cold. Generally a rainy day like
Figure 1; The onshore shellfish farm at Zeeland
Aquaculture photo J H Brown
Figure 2; Algal production is the biggest problem. This
is one production raceway. Photo J H Brown
Figure 3; Marco Huissen and Ronald de Vos

13. The Grower — 13
the day I was there,with temperatures around 8-10˚C are
worse for growth than a sunny day at -10˚C.
The Manila clam does not grow as well, taking 18-
24 months to market size but Ronald feels that there is a
lot of improvement still possible for them. While the
oysters are grown in trays on the bottom of the ponds
the clams have a sandy substrate provided for them to
burrow into.
Prins & Dingemanse has farms in other parts of
Holland and have trialled suspended oyster culture but
the Dutch industry is very much oriented to dredging
since they farm on their plots of sea bed they rent from
the crown, and cleaning the bags once fouled is
apparently too much like hard work for the automation
minded Dutch!! [Marco Huissen also told me that there
is another major reason for this lack of interest in
suspended culture and that is that all structures have to
be removed from the water column by law by the end of
October - clearly a strong disincentive for suspended
culture!]
Despite all their work, the current price to produce the
land grown oyster is twice that of the normal sea
produced ones at the present time. Ronald said that the
marketing people can work on this to increase the price
– added value and since they are providing all the food
they can engineer different qualities in the oysters. The
land reared oysters are marketed as “Caresse” oysters
indicating the extra care and personalised diet they have
received! The “Caresse” oysters won the prestigious
Seafood Prix d’Elite in the food service category at the
Brussels Seafood show in 2012.
Some things however remain the same. They still
need to grade the oysters despite all the feed being
supplied. The water comes by pipeline pumped under
the city of Yerseke and is filtered to 5μm to keep other
species out. They recirculate 80% of the water and have
a complete reservoir for reconditioning (figure 4).
Growing shellfish on land did seem to me very
counter-intuitive. For one thing the marine environment
loses all the ecosystem services that the shellfish can
provide. I did suggest one benefit was that the farmer
could always be free of any closures whether from poor
water quality or HABs but Ronald said that there were
not a problem in Holland anyway. So it will be
interesting to see which way this farm goes, whether it
is the start of a trend or specialist one-off that can cater
to a market willing to pay absolute premium prices.
Certainly the “Caresse” oyster has provided a very
positive indication of this.
Shellfish promotion
On my tour Marco very adroitly timed a visit to
Oesterij for lunch time. By this time the sun was
shining and it was good to see a site in the process of
being converted from what were recently derelict
offices and oyster holding tanks into what is essentially
an information and tourist centre including restaurant,
promoting shellfish. Our host for the visit was Jean
Dhooge whose family have farmed mussels for over
100 years. He and his brother had started Oesterij in
April 2012 but even before it is completed they are
getting many visitors including one organised by the
local tourist office for 400 people! To get from the
restaurant area down to the tanks and up the other side
to the information “warehouses” is quite a climb so
they plan to provide a bridge over the holding tanks,
Figure 5; Marco Huissen with Jean Dhooge of Oesterij
Figure 4 Reservoir for reconditioning the 80%
recirculated water
Figure 6 Jean poses for me in front of a wall constructed
of collection tiles, obsolete since the big wipe-out of the
native oyster in 1963. The natives do however appear to
be making a comeback in recent years.

14. The Grower — 14
mainly for disabled access.
They had got one display area set up explaining the
mussel industry and plan to do the same for the oyster
industry in a similar building. They have some great
photos for that of ancient landings of native oyster so I
would very much like to see the final display. With the
pressure on collection of mussel seed being uppermost
on the minds of the farmers in Holland we talked about
methods of seed collection – collecting on rope is
proving expensive for them at around 60-70 cents per
kg seed. One surprising sight was seeing all the boxes
of native oysters which Jean said was definitely making
a come-back after a complete wipe-out in 1963 with the
extreme winter then. And it is much sought after in the
Netherlands. We finished the tour in the restaurant
when I could fully appreciate Marco’s foresight as I was
presented with 3 delicious native oysters, a glass of
white wine and then a large bowl of steaming hot
mussels, all perfectly delicious.
Mussel processing
Seeing Dutch mussel processing was all I had
expected to see on this trip but I was still not expecting
the degree of automation I saw at the most recently
updated of all the processors systems and the best way
of presenting this is pictorially so please see the photo
report on pages 16 and 17. We were shown around by
Annette van der Kooij of Krijn Verwijs Yerseke b.v
which is a company that take their responsibility to
sustainable production very seriously, having been the
first company to get MSC accreditation – for the bottom
grown mussels of the Menai Strait. In addition they
have acquired MSC Chain of Custody certificates for
the processing and packaging of these mussels They
also process organic certified mussels from Ireland and
have year round mussel production and processing
marketed under the Premier label and Premier Premium
Quality for catering outlets. It is a long established
company first set up in 1880 as a oyster breeding
company. They are the largest mussel producers in
Holland also with production areas in UK, Ireland and
the German Wadden Sea and also process and market a
number of other shellfish and marine products.
(www.krijnverwijs.com)
I was also shown the oyster processing at Prins &
Dingemanse by Martijn van der Sluijs as the finale to an
amazing day. One of my other visits was to a fully
automated turbot farm which if you are interested in
you can read about in Fish Farmer magazine for March/
April.
I am extremely grateful to Marco Huissen of Murre
Techniek b.v, (www.murre.nl) a company well known
for their total solution for shellfish processing and with
an sales office in Canada www.formutech.ca/ I am
hoping he will be coming to the ASSG conference in
October to talk about their Easyfarm system and issues
in Dutch shellfish farming.
Figure 7; The author tests the product at Oesterij –
delicious
Figure 8; Traditional packaging for native oysters at
Prins & Dingemans
Shellfish Innovations in Holland—continued

15. The Grower — 15
Oysterecover native oyster hatchery
workshop in Yerseke
Janet H Brown reports
Oysterecover is an industry–led project set up to aid
conservation of the native oyster (see Grower December
2012). While the main focus of the project is to
understand the main problem affecting oyster stocks, the
Bonamia ostreae parasite, there is a concern that without
hatchery intervention, recovery of stocks is not going to
be possible. Hence the workshop on hatchery technique
set up in Yerseke, Holland at the end of January. The
full account and presentations will be available at the
Oysterecover web site at www.oysterecover.eu/
The workshop covered presentations from the
industry perspective with David Hugh Jones talking
about his work over many years in Cork and Mathieu
Hussenot talking about demands for native oysters and
activities in production in France. René Robert of
Ifremer talked on both broodstock management and
conditioning and then on larval nutrition. Stefano
Carboni of Viking Fish Farms at Ardtoe presented
information on their work and the talking part of the day
concluded with a presentation from Luz Pérez-Parallé on
problems faced during metamorphosis and settlement.
The 31 participants then visited the Roem van
Yerseke hatchery and were shown around by native
oyster enthusiast Frank Peene. While the main thrust of
the hatchery is to produce Crassostrea gigas seed it was
clear our guide was happy to devote what time he could
to the native oyster. Certainly from my observations
from the previous day in Yerseke (pages 12-14)
demand for native oysters in Holland was very strong
so maybe he will get his wish to be able to produce
more Ostrea edulis seed.
Pictured below—on left Frank Peene explains the
hatchery to Annelies Pronker, Craig Burton and Sarah
Culloty
Below from left, Jaap de Rooij, Christiaan van Sluis,
Craig Burton, Jens Petersen and Sharon Lynch
Workshop on oyster herpes virus and
biosecurity in Oban (with ASSG AGM)
The ASSG is organising a workshop to provide an
update on current knowledge of the oyster herpes and its
impacts in France, England and N. Ireland and to
provide a forum to air our own concerns and to discuss
best means to protect Scotland from this and other
threats. Speakers will include Dr Mike Gubbins of
CEFAS talking on the oyster herpes situation in
England, Fabrice Richez giving us the inside story from
France while Martin Flanigan will tell us about what
practical measures they are putting in place in N. Ireland
including on-farm research methods. While oyster
herpes tends to get most attention, a recent scientific
publication from Marine Scotland gives a timely
reminder that oysters are not the only species under
threat since if Marteilia, now found in England, were to
be introduced here, the effects could be far more
catastrophic. One of the authors of this paper, Mar
Marcos-Lopez from Marine Scotland will complete the
programme of speakers talking on biosecurity and
threats we need to keep well in mind. Janet Brown who
will be chairing the workshop hopes that the speakers
will provoke much debate from the audience with a view
to deciding if any actions are necessary or whether
awareness will suffice. The workshop will be held in
Oban, April 16th
with registration from 9am and with the
meeting starting at 10am. Lunch will be provided and
the AGM will follow at 14.30.
Non members are also welcome to attend but there
will be a charge for non-members of £20. Please
register your interest if a member, or register and pay if
a non-member via the website www.assg.org.uk

16. The Grower — 16
Mussel processing—Dutch style
Janet Brown reports pictorially
1. Mussels arrive at Krijn Verwijs Yerseke b.v. from
rewatering sites off Yerseke
2 and 3. Lifting off into the processing plant as
operated remotely as shown below
4. The remote operation allows the mussels to be
slotted into a gap for depuration
5 and 6. From the depuration they move up for
preliminary separating and cleaning and then on
conveyor below to next stage of the operation
Pictures from a visit to the largest and most up to date
processor in Holland, Krijn Verwijs Yerseke b.v.
This has been very recently renovated and the capacity
has increased by 25% with the new machinery. They
can now process 8-9 tonnes per hour.
More information is in the report on pages 13 and 14.

17. The Grower — 17
7 and 8. While the mussels are all moved from stage to
stage automatically visual checking is still essential—
above and below
9. Final size sorting through griddles
10. Final quality check before fully automated
packaging as shown below
11. Final product ready for shipping
The updating work was done in conjunction with Murre
Techniek b.v. Their expertise is turn-key delivery of a
total concept and supply complete processing lines
tailored to specific requirements. They do not only
apply their own machines but also make use of other
suppliers’ products, acting as a contact for these
suppliers. They can thus provide their clients with a
processing line fully tailored to their needs which is,
above all, failure-free and low-maintenance. In addition
their communication lines are short so clients will
always be in contact with the right person. This personal
approach keeps everyone, including the mechanics in
the workshop, involved. The main principles of their
concept are:
Sustainability
Low maintenance
Proven technology
Labour cost reduction

18. The Grower — 18
The Seafood Training Academy – new course
Following collaborative work between the Sea Fish
Industry Authority and the Southern and Scottish
Shellfish Training Centres, a new Training Course has
been developed for Managers of bivalve purification
and despatch centres. This management training
programme is a mix of theory and practical activity
delivered over three days by trainers from the Southern
and Scottish STCs. The training programme also
provides a route to achieving the Level 3 Award in
Bivalve Purification Operations Management. The
course is aimed at managers working in bivalve
purification businesses, but is also suitable for
individuals seeking to establish such businesses and
even inspection personnel who wish to progress their
development beyond the FSA approved 2-day shellfish
hygiene for EHOs training course. For further details
please go to www.seafoodacademy.org/BVP%
20management.htm
Neogen develops simple tests for shellfish
toxins
Neogen Europe Ltd. has added to its comprehensive
range of tests for the seafood industry with the
introduction of rapid tests to detect the toxins that cause
amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) and diarrhetic
shellfish poisoning (DSP).
Neogen’s new Reveal®
2.0 for ASP detects ASP-
causing toxins at a level of 20 parts per million (ppm),
and Reveal 2.0 for DSP detects DSP-causing toxins at
160 parts per billion (ppb). Both are one-step rapid
tests, and are compatible with U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and European Union
Commission permitted levels.
Both new shellfish toxin tests offer easy extraction
processes, meaning they are on-site field tests capable
of being used on a boat, and are used with Neogen’s
innovative AccuScan®
Pro Reader that provides
consistently accurate and reliable results.
“The combination of the new tests and test reader
provide an unparalleled ease in achieving consistently
accurate results when testing for these toxins,” said
Neogen Europe’s Steve Chambers. “The AccuScan Pro
Reader completely eliminates the variance in
interpreting test results that can exist when only using a
visual appraisal, especially with inexperienced testers.
It also provides a very easy method of storing and
analysing test results — which is becoming increasingly
required as many nations move to reduce the risk posed
by these shellfish toxins.”
Toxins that cause ASP are produced by toxigenic
diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, and primarily
include domoic acid (DA). In addition to contamination
of seafood, these marine biotoxins can result in human
and marine wildlife mortality. The clinical toxicological
effects attributed to DA can include: permanent loss of
short-term memory, nausea, vomiting, headache,
disorientation and loss of balance. Most countries have
currently established a maximum permitted level of 20
mg DA per kg whole shellfish (20 ppm).
Toxins that cause DSP include the okadaic acid
(OA) group of toxins. OA is produced by marine
dinoflagellates such as Dinophysis, and has structural
analogs referred to as the dinophysistoxins (DTXs).
Clinical toxicological effects attributed to DSP
following consumption of contaminated seafood
includes diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The established
EU maximum permitted levels are 160 µg OA
equivalents (OA, DTXs, pectenotoxins) per kg shellfish
meat (160 ppb). FDA action limits are 160 µg (160 ppb)
OA equivalents (OA, DTXs) in shellfish. Reveal 2.0 for
DSP’s rapid screen is validated to detect OA, DTX1 and
DTX2. Due to industry regulations, Neogen can provide
an additional validated extraction for the detection of
DTX3 in shellfish samples.
Neogen Europe Ltd., the European subsidiary of
Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG), is a high
technology business dedicated to the development and
marketing of novel diagnostic kits. These kits focus on
topical concerns about the quality and safety of food
and agricultural products, from the quality of seed that
goes into the ground, right through the chain to the
safety of fully processed food products. Neogen Europe
was awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise for
international trade and development, one of the highest
awards bestowed on a UK company.

19. The Grower — 19
ICSR 2012 joint meeting in Mystic, USA
Janet H Brown reports
The 15th
International Conference for Shellfish
restoration took place in Mystic, Connecticut in
December 2012, too late for inclusion in the last
Grower. This time it was held in conjunction with two
other conferences, partly through funding constraints
but more importantly for reasons of synergy and cross
fertilisation. It was a most successful meeting with the
theme “Aquaculture and Restoration – a Partnership”.
The American meetings are usually held in
Charleston South Carolina and it is certainly pleasant to
get a touch of southern sunshine in the winter, but
taking the train from New York to New London, just a
two hours hop did stress to me how much easier it was
to get to Mystic rather than the two days journey I took
by train to Charleston two years ago!
The other partners were the NACE (Northeast
Aquaculture Conference and Exposition) and the 33rd
Milford Aquaculture Seminar. Since the bulk of
aquaculture in this part of USA is shellfish farming
anyway the commonality of interests was very great.
With 4 concurrent sessions no report could possibly
give a fair representation of the conference but one
strong message to the aquaculturists was to get with the
politics, and not to get left out by being unprepared for
changes as the production from aquaculture outstrips
that of wild fisheries.
With the conference being held in a hotel rather
isolated from other facilities, there was a need for
evening entertainment after a packed programme of
talks. Some of the participants rose magnificently to the
challenge with their tales of aquaculture disasters;
competing for the prize of “dismal failure” some even
given in disguise to try to hide their embarrassment!
But while all the tales were hugely entertaining the prize
was awarded via an appropriately unscientific human
clapometer to Sandy Macfarlane for her well known tale
of trying to get clams to breed in what looked like a
privy set in the scenic waters of Cape Cod. Musical
entertainment was also provided by the impromptu
shellfish band.
A lobster bake completed the social events in a most
satisfying way (see back page!).
Once again, attending the ICSR conference
highlighted to me how the USA approach to shellfish
restoration is light years ahead of anything in Europe
and to attend a whole session on “Shellfish restoration
metrics of success” – how to measure the effectiveness
of restoration as an essential part of getting further
funding and for assessing benefits of certain methods
makes a visitor from Europe feel like one is visiting a
parallel universe.
What was also quite striking was that the NACE part
of the conference had sessions that basically addressed
the “how to” of setting up in aquaculture with farmers
and equipment suppliers on hand to discuss practical
issues. These sessions were packed out.
There was also a variety of field trips organised for
the start of the conference which were all very well
received. I visited the American Mussel Harvesters,
Inc. processing plant, set up in 1988. Most of the
mussels are dredged from the wild but the company has
an increasing interest in developing mussel aquaculture.
Presentations will be available soon from
www.northeastaquaculture.org/
Contender for “dismal failure” award in disguise—
Bill Walton!
Impromptu music; from left John Ewart, Gary Wikfors,
Carter Newell and Jeff “Smokey” McKeen
On one of the field visits—from left Dana Morse,
Marco Huissen, Mike Chambers and Bill Silkes,
President of American Mussel Harvesters Inc. giving
the tour.

20. The Grower — 20
Pictured above; An oyster farm in Vietnam. Read on page 6 about the plans for the 5th International Oyster
Symposium (IOS5) to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 10-13, 2013. The theme for the conference is
"Positioning for Profit".
The perfect social end to an International Conference
for Shellfish Restoration (ICSR) – a shellfish feast. It
only lacked the opportunity for dancing off the excess.
Pictured above, first time ICSR attendee, Sean Handley
of NIWA New Zealand, definitely the winner of the “I
travelled furthest to be here award” together with ICSR
regulars, Robert “Skid” Rheault, and Dot Leonard who
had done an excellent job organising this conference.
For full report see page 15. Hopefully there will be
much more competition for Sean’s mythical prize if the
plan to hold the 2014 ICSR in God’s Own comes about.
The Grower will be there to report for sure.
ICSR Lobster bake
Oyster farming in Vietnam
Seen on the field visit to American Mussel
Harvesters Inc. Are these small oysters or what? But
actually they are on their way to market. These are
marketed as gigamoto oysters – supposedly akin to the
highly sought after Kumamoto oysters, a Japanese
oyster cultured on the West coast of USA. The
Kumamoto oyster is highly sought after in USA as is the
European flat oyster marketed there as belon. But these
are straightforward Crassostrea gigas, albeit much
smaller and with much deeper cup. But even more
specialised types of oysters are becoming available,
even land reared oysters. (See page 12. )
Gigamoto oysters