Seeking contractors for Scottish shellfish monitoring

The monitoring programme focuses on three main groups of toxins: diarrhetic shellfish poison (DSP), amnesic shellfish poison (ASP), and paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). Sampling and analysis are required throughout the year, though more intensively from April to October. Scotland has 175 classified shellfish production areas and samples are taken from 81 representative monitoring points. It is hoped that a contract or contracts will be awarded by mid January 2008. Implementation planning will be expected to start as soon as possible to ensure that full contract operation is possible with effect from 1 April 2008. The intention is to award a three year contract with possible extension for a further two years. Questionnaires need to be returned by 15 October 2007.