PSPSafe: Exploring molecular tools to address the increasing risk of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in Ireland
 

PSPSafe is a four year DAFM funded project. It began in November 2021 and will continue until 2025. It is a multidisciplinary collaboration with The Marine Institute, Atlantic Technological University, Galway and University College Dublin.

In the last 20 years, Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PSTs) events have significantly increased around the South West coast of Ireland. Specifically, in 2019, the production area of Castlemaine Harbour suffered closures of up to several weeks as shellfish samples were showing extremely high concentrations of PSTs. This was the result of the phytoplankton Alexandrium.

Species of Alexandrium are very similar taxonomically but not all are responsible for producing the toxin. As a result, traditional monitoring with light microscopy is proving difficult and has lead us to examine the possibilities of molecular analysis.

The aims of the project are to identify the causes, timing, environmental factors and the mechanistic pathways of these PST events and the possibilities in using molecular analysis to aid monitoring practices.

Project Aims

Toxin Distribution

To form a comprehensive sampling and analytical programme targeting these toxins in the water, sediment and shellfish to identify causes, timing, environmental factors and mechanistic pathways of toxin occurrence.

Molecular Analysis

Novel molecular methods along with biochemistry and benthic analysis will be completed to aid in the development management strategies and early warning systems.

Predictive Forecasting

A comprehensive dataset will be compiled from an intensive sampling and analytical programme in determining the spatial and temporal distribution of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins and the causative toxin producing species in Irish coastal waters, in order to establish predictive forecasting capabilities.