• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.460-464
• /
• 2012

From 1998 to 2008, the bacteriological quality of seawater in Kamak Bay, Korea, was monitored. The total and fecal coliforms in seawater were monitored as bacterial indicators, and the level of fecal coliform contamination was used to evaluate seawater quality. In the southern shellfish growing area of Kamak Bay, the observed fecal coliform geometric mean (GM) and estimated 90th percentile did not exceed the quality standards for fecal coliforms in seawater in Korea and th USA (GM<14 MPN/100 mL, 90th percentile<43 MPN/100 mL). The GM and estimated 90th percentile of the fecal coliform levels in the adjacent northern area of Kamak Bay were higher than in the southern area. Stations near wastewater discharge sites and urban areas in the north had the lowest quality and did not meet the bacteriological seawater quality criteria. The high fecal coliform levels in the Seonso coastal region near wastewater discharges and northern urban areas declined significantly following dredging and operation of a sewage treatment plant.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.615-625
• /
• 2023

This study evaluated the bacteriological safety of seawater and abalone produced in Uisin-myeon, Jindo-gun from September 2020 to December 2022 and calculated the effect of inland pollution sources on seawater and abalone. We surveyed 33 stations for seawater, 4 stations for abalone, and 7 stations for discharge water of major inland pollutants. We analyzed the coliform group, fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as bacteria indicators. In 924 seawater samples, the geometric mean of the coliform group and fecal coliform were <1.8-5.6 MPN/100 mL and <1.8-2.7 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The estimated 90^th percentile range for the coliform group and fecal coliform were <1.8-42 MPN/100 mL and <1.8-8.4 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The fecal coliform and E. coli levels for 107 abalone were <18-460 MPN/100 g and <18-78 MPN/100 g respectively. Moreover, the analyzed standard plate count was <30-7,700 CFU/g. The fecal coliform level and diffusion area in 7 inland pollutants were <1.8-3,300,000 MPN/100 mL and 2-2,500 m, respectively. The bacteriological safety of seawater and abalone in Uisin-myeon, Jindo-gun, was demonstrated to be a designated area according to Korean standards, a conditionally approved area per US standards, and Class A according to EU standards.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2012

In coastal areas that are affected by continuous, seasonal or occasional pollution sources, bivalves accumulate biological contaminants such as pathogenic bacteria. We investigated the effect of natural seawater relaying and electrolyzed seawater depuration on the bacteriological quality of artificially contaminated oysters Crassostrea gigas and short-necked clams Ruditapes philippinarum to suggest an alternative method of shellfish sanitation control.When artificially contaminated oysters and short-necked clams (fecal coliform level 1,700 MPN/100 g) were relayed into a sea area of safe bacteriological water quality, the fecal coliform level dropped to below 110 MPN/100 g after 1 day. The bacteriological quality of oysters and short-necked clams that are contaminated at a fecal coliform level of 1,700 MPN/100 g could be improved, and become appropriate for raw consumption by a single day relay under proper environmental conditions. When artificially contaminated oysters (fecal coliform level 330 MPN/100 g) were depurated with electrolyzed seawater, 94% of fecal coliform was eliminated after 12 h and fecal coliform was undetectable after 24 h. After 24 h depuration with electrolyzed seawater, the fecal coliform level of short-necked clams with initial fecal coliform of 2,400 MPN/100 g was below 20 MPN/100 g. However, the fecal coliform level of short-necked clams with initial fecal coliform of 17,000 MPN/100 g was relatively high, at 790 MPN/100 g, even after 24 h of depuration with electrolyzed seawater, because of the repeated cycle of excretion and accumulation of fecal coliform in shellfish tissue under the closed depuration environment. Such natural seawater relaying and electrolyzed seawater depuration can be restrictively applied to improve or secure the bacteriological quality of oysters and short-necked clams in accordance with safety levels for bivalves for raw consumption.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 2008

The seawater in the Taean area was surveyed to evaluate the conditions of the bay and compliance with the bacteriological criteria for a designated area for shellfish production for export. Samples of seawater were collected monthly at 34 sampling stations established in the survey area from January 2002 to December 2004. The bacterial density in the coastal area close to a pollution source located to the northeast of the survey area was higher than in the open sea to the west. The bacteriological counts in the water did not change with 16.5mm of rainfall, but increased abruptly after 65.4mm of rainfall. The total coliform and fecal coliform most probable numbers (MPNs) of 1,224 seawater samples in the survey area were <1.8-2,400 and <1.8-790 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The geometric mean and estimated 90th percentile of total coliforms were 1.9-3.4 and 2.7-26.3 MPN/100mL, respectively, and for fecal coliforms were <1.8-2.6 and 1.8-12.0 MPN/100mL, respectively. The bacteriological water quality in the Taean seawater area met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program criteria for an approved area and the Korea Shellfish Sanitation Program criteria for a designated area for shellfish production for export.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.614-622
• /
• 2010

The sanitary quality of a shellfish-growing area in Gangjinman, Korea, was assessed through a bacteriological examination of seawater form January 2007 to December 2009. The range of the geometric mean (GM) and the estimated 90th percentile for most-probable-number (MPN) values for fecal coliforms in samples collected in the designated area were 2.0-2.4 and 6.1-11.5 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Therefore, the bacteriological quality of seawater in the designated area in the Gangjinman area met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP, USA) guidelines for approved areas. Also, the sanitary status of shellfish harvested from the designated area met the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program (KSSP) fecal coliform criterion (<230 MPN/100 g). However, the degree of bacteriological contamination increased rapidly, and water quality exceeded the criteria for approved areas when large amounts of rain fell before the sampling date. Fortunately, fecal pollutants did not affect the bacteriological quality of a buffer zone established between the shoreline and the designated area. These results indicate that the current buffer zone established around the designated area protects the designated area properly.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2010

A Sanitary survey in an Important shellfish-growing area of Biin Bay in Seocheon-gun Korea, was conducted to evaluate bay conditions and compliance with the bacteriological criteria for areas designated for the production of shellfish for export. Seawater samples were collected monthly at 55 sampling stations established in the survey area from January 2006 to December 2008. Bacteriological water quality did not change in response to a small rainfall (10.0 mm), but it increased abruptly in response to rainfall to 62.5 mm The most probable number (MPN) value for total coliforms and fecal coliforms in 1, 980 seawater samples ranged from <1.8 to >1, 600 MPN/100mL and from <1.8 to 330 MPN/100mL, respectively. The geometric mean and estimated $90^{th}$ percentile value for total coliforms ranged from 2.0 to 10.3 MPN/100mL and from 7.0 to 42.6 MPN/100mL respectively. The geometric mean and estimated percentile value for fecal coliforms ranged from 1.8 to 4.0 MPN/100mL and from 1.9 to 18.3 MPN/100mL, respectively. Accordingly, the bacteriological water quality of Biin Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) and Korea Shel1fish Sanitation Program(KSSP) criteria for areas designated for shellfish production for export in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.350-358
• /
• 2015

This study was designed to evaluate the sanitary characteristics of sea water in a part of the south coast, Korea and to check the seawater which is in compliance with the recommended bacteriological criteria for shellfish cultivation. The samples of sea water were collected at 14 sampling stations established in the survey area between March 2014 and October 2014. Food poisoning caused by seafood consumption is often associated with pathogenic microorganisms originated from fecal contamination. Therefore, fecal coliform is very important criteria for evaluating the safety of fisheries in coastal areas. The range of geometric mean (GM) and the estimated 90th percentile values of total coliform were 4.1~83.1 MPN/100 mL, and 11.7~834.1 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The GM and the estimated 90th percentile values of fecal coliform were 2.5~22.7 MPN/100 mL and 2.5~170.0 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Therefore, the bacteriological safety of seawater at this shellfish-growing area met with the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program (KSSP) criteria for a growing area. However, the values are seasonally exceed the KSSP criteria, suggesting that the monitoring and evaluation of seawater quality is very important in shellfish-growing area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.535-541
• /
• 2018

This study evaluated the sanitary state of seawater and shellfish in Yongnam-Gwangdo area from January 2014 to December 2016. The sampling stations for sanitary survey in Yongnam-Gwangdo area were composed of 41 seawater stations and 5 oyster Crassostrea gigas stations. The samples were collected monthly at each station. Shellfish-borne disease is associated with bacteria and viruses in the presence of fecal coliforms. Bacteriological pollution levels of shellfish increase with seawater quality. Therefore, fecal coliforms are very important criteria for evaluating the safety of fisheries in coastal areas. The geometric mean and the estimated 90th percentile ranges of total and fecal coliforms for seawater were 1.8-11.7, 2.8-233.6, <1.8-6.7 and 1.8-100.2 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The range of E. coli levels for oysters was <20-1,300 MPN/100 g. Based on various standards, the sanitary condition in Yongnam-Gwangdo area was evaluated as follows: clean area (Korean criteria), conditionally approved area (US criteria) and class B (EU criteria).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess bacteriological hazards in the following 7 kinds of minimally processed shellfish products purchased from Korean seafood retail outlets: raw oysters stored with seawater in polyethylene bags, frozen oysters, raw mussels, frozen mussels, boiled mussels, raw short-necked clam, and frozen short-necked clams, obtained from Korean seafood retail outlets. The total coliform and Escherichia coli counts determined in all samples were detected below regulation limit of the Korean government guidelines (Food Code). In addition, the high-risk bacterial pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in any samples. Low-risk pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were detected at levels above $1.0{\times}10^2$ colony forming unit (CFU)/g in some minimally processed shellfish products. Notably, S. aureus was detected in all samples. Raw oysters stored with seawater in polyethylene bags, frozen oysters, and boiled blue mussels are commonly ingested without heating, and therefore these minimally processed shellfish products pose bacteriological hazards. The detection of S. aureus in all shellfish products, an organism indicative of poor personal hygiene, which can grow and multiply during distribution, indicates the necessity of improving the food safety of minimally processed shellfish products.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.442-448
• /
• 2009

Bacteriological examination of a 12,700 ha area within Jaranman Saryangdo area, located in Jaran bay and Saryangdo island, was conducted with 35 fixed (designated areas and adjacent areas) seawater sampling stations between January 2006 and December 2008. According to results, the geometric mean range and the estimated 90th percentile range of fecal coliform counts in sea water samples collected in the designated area were <1.8-2.4 and <1.8-8.6 MPN/100mL, respectively. The estimated 90th percentile range of fecal coliform counts in sea water samples collected from 6 sampling stations in the adjacent areas were 6.1-34.6 MPN/100mL. Based on these results, bacteriological water quality of the designated areas in the Jaranman. Saryangdo area meet the NSSP (National Shellfish Sanitation Program) guidelines for approved area. The bacteriological sea water quality in Jaranman.Saryangdo area has been shown to be favorable at all investigated sampling stations except for July and August which coincided with heavy rainfall. In fact, the bacteriological water quality was not affected if rainfall was less than 30 mm rainfall. However, the degree of bacteriological contamination increased rapidly and the water quality exceeded approved NSSP guidelines set for rainfall above 60 mm.