Determination of Appropriate Conditions for the Depuration of Razor Clams

Summary

Trials carried out to determine appropriate conditions for the depuration of razor clams have found that, providing diver-gathered animals are banded and re-immersed soon after capture and kept banded during the depuration process, significant removal of E.coli can be achieved from shellfish artificially contaminated with primary sewage effluent. Shellfish contaminated to class C levels of E.coli achieved significant clearance of E.coli after 42 hours at 10 degrees centigrade and a salinity of 30% and with a shellfish to water ratio of 1:4 (w/w).

Author

• M. Boulter,
• M. Pyke,
• A.Younger,
• CEFAS

Publication date

01 May 1999