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Reasons for sanitary monitoring
The aim of monitoring is to assess the sanitary quality of the natural shellfish supply used in recreational shellfish picking.
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The main agencies involved in monitoring the sanitary quality of shellfish in France are IFREMER (the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), the DDASS (Departmental Directorates on Health and Social Affairs) offices, and the DDAM (Departmental Directorates on Maritime Affairs) Offices. The microbiological, phytoplankton and chemical quality of shellfish is assessed through a variety of monitoring networks in the areas where recreational and/or professional shellfish picking occurs, as well as on shellfish production sites. |
The overall quality of shellfish picking areas is assessed each year, based on all of the results found. The sites are classified according to their salubriousness (A, B, C and D).
Certain areas show consistently good quality, while others are consistently mediocre; still others vary in quality due to the pluviometry or occasional contamination.
- Class A sites are of good quality,
- Class B sites are of mediocre quality, with shellfish that may be contaminated during part of the year,
- Class C sites are of mediocre quality, with shellfish that may be contaminated during part of the year,
- Class D sites are of poor quality, with shellfish significantly and continuously contaminated.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Rural Code, recreational shellfish picking is allowed in Class A zones, tolerated in Class B zones provided that consumers are appropriately informed (the DDASS recommends that the shellfish be cooked, in this event) and prohibited in Class C and D zones.
Shellfish picking areas can be subject to sanitary monitoring all year long to detect possible contamination. Should the approved regulatory thresholds be exceeded, shellfish picking may be prohibited by a municipal or prefectoral order in the relevant areas, until the situation returns to regulatory compliance. |
Classification and sanitary monitoring results can be posted at the entrance to the shellfish bed area and at the Town Hall.
More information :
Sanitary monitoring agencies
- IFREMER, France’s scientific body responsible for continually monitoring shellfish-growing water quality for microbe, phytoplankton and chemical content, has developed a number of monitoring networks specifically for this purpose: the REMI network, on microbiological factors; the REPHY network, on toxinogenic phytoplankton and the RNO network, on other parameters, in particular chemical contaminants.
- The DDASS offices, in line with their responsibilities in protecting public health, perform microbiological analysis of natural shellfish beds used in recreational shellfish picking. In certain regions, the DDASS offices also look for heavy metals in the beds. They do not, however, monitor phycotoxin content, which is the responsibility of IFREMER.
- The DDAM offices are in charge of regulating marine farming and professional and recreational fishing along the coast.
Interpreting sanitary monitoring results
Bacteriological contaminants
Due to the highly uneven presence and wide variety of pathogen micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses and protozoa) in coastal waters, the DDASS offices monitor, all year long, the natural shellfish beds used for recreational fishing, by taking samples of bivalves. The assessments are based on Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts. This reflects the fact that almost all pathogen micro-organisms identified along the coast comes from faecal, human or animal sources and consistently come with large amounts of E. coli, specific to faecal matter. Depending on the analysis findings, shellfish picking is allowed, discouraged or fully prohibited.
Sampling results |
Interpretation |
E. coli /100 ml < 230 |
Recreational fishing allowed unrestricted |
230 < E. coli /100 ml < 4 600 |
Recreational fishing allowed but not recommended |
E. coli /100 ml > 4 600 |
Recreational fishing prohibited |
No fishing site may be reopened following prohibition unless 2 consecutive samples, taken at an 8-day interval, show < 1 000 E. coli /100 ml.
Chemical and biological contaminants
The maritime authorities (DDAM) may also suspend the authorisation on recreational shellfish picking, temporarily or permanently, if the results derived from IFREMER’s surveillance networks and the DDASS offices’ inspections show that the chemical (heavy metals, in particular) and microbiological contaminant (toxic phytoplankton) contents do not comply with regulatory standards (2 July 1996 Order as modified by the 25 November 1999 Order).
Classification procedures for recreational shellfish picking areas
As no specific procedures exist for classifying recreational fishing areas, the DDASS offices apply the provisions set out in the 21 May 1999 Order concerning the classification and monitoring of live shellfish production and reimplantation areas based on salubriousness.
The classification criteria used for the fishing areas are based on microbiological factors (Escherichia coli concentration in shellfish, a good indicator of contamination risk through pathogens) and chemical factors (mercury, cadmium and lead content in shellfish). Generally speaking, microbiological parameters are checked once to twice a month, while chemical parameters are checked annually. Analysis is performed on a standardised basis, by a laboratory approved for living bivalves. Though subject to surveillance, phytoplankton toxins are not taken into consideration when classifying recreational shellfish picking sites by sanitary quality.
Shellfish picking classification is an overall indicator of the ability of sites to be used for recreational shellfish picking.
Bacteriological parameters
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Categories |
Classification |
Interpretation |
E. coli / 100 g CLI* |
≤ 230 |
≤ 1 000 |
≤ 4 600 |
≤ 46 000 |
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Number of samples |
≥ 90% |
≤ 10% |
0% |
A |
A Recreational fishing allowed unrestricted |
≥ 90% |
≤10% |
B |
Recreational fishing tolerated (cooking recommended prior to consumption) |
≥ 90% |
C |
Recreational fishing permanently prohibited |
≤90% |
D |
Recreational fishing permanently prohibited |
* CLI = Inter-valve meat and liquid Chemical parameters
Shellfish picking areas are automatically moved to Class D when the following standards are exceeded:
- Total mercury < 0.5 mg/kg moist meat
- Cadmium < 1 mg/kg moist meat
- Lead < 1.5 mg/kg moist meat
The standard values are determined by the 8 March 2005 European Regulation.
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