Principal Investigator
Bobbi Hudson, Pacific Shellfish Institute
Co-Principal Investigators
Jerry Borchert, Washington Department of Health
Dan Cheney, Pacific Shellfish Institute
Jonathan Davis, Puget Sound Restoration Fund
Steve Morton, NOAA/National Ocean Service, Marine Biotoxins Program
Sandy Shumway, University of Connecticut
Brent Vadopalas, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Project
The native purple hinged rock scallop shows promise for aquaculture production, yet information on scallop biotoxin retention and detoxification is lacking. This is critical because toxins associated with potentially deadly paralytic shellfish poisoning are widely reported in bivalves along the North American west coast. Investigators will address regulatory and industry needs by improving understanding of biotoxin uptake and depuration in rock scallop species and by helping to establish approved National Shellfish Sanitation Program lab tests for detecting marine biotoxins. Research results are also anticipated to help improve understanding of optimal growout methods for purple hinged rocks scallops in Washington State.