Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biotoxin-and-phytoplankton-monitoring

Change description : 2026-07-02 16:39:00: Lyme Bay has been added to the list of production areas currently closed for commercial harvesting due to the presence of marine biotoxins above safe limits [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2026-07-01 08:03:17.076945087 +00:00..2026-07-02 15:39:30.721993112 +00:00

Statutory guidance

Biotoxin and phytoplankton monitoring

The risks of marine biotoxins and phytoplankton that infect shellfish and what food businesses can do about them.

From:
Food Standards Agency
Published
15 January 2020
Last updated
12 July 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Documents

Biotoxin and phytoplankton monitoring

HTML

Protocol for sampling and transport of shellfish for Northern Ireland

PDF, 316 KB, 8 pages

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Protocol for the collection and transport of shellfish samples for England & Wales

PDF, 577 KB, 16 pages

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Shellfish end product test Northern Ireland

PDF, 471 KB, 1 page

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Protocol for sampling and transport of water samples for Northern Ireland

PDF, 142 KB, 6 pages

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Protocol for the collection and transport of water for England & Wales

PDF, 271 KB, 15 pages

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Biotoxin and phytoplankton sampling plans for England and Wales

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 335 KB

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Shellfish and water sample submission form for Northern Ireland

PDF, 44.6 KB, 1 page

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Details

The risks of marine biotoxins and phytoplankton that infect shellfish and what food businesses can do about them.

Updates to this page

Published 15 January 2020
Last updated 12 July 2026 — Show all updates

  1. Lyme Bay has been added to the list of production areas currently closed for commercial harvesting due to the presence of marine biotoxins above safe limits

  2. Biotoxin and phytoplankton sampling plans for England and Wales updated for July

  3. Live updates has been updated to remove Porthallow from the list of closed production areas (now open)

  4. Mevagissey Bay and St. Austell Bay have been removed from the closed production area list.

  5. Added translation

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Update history

2026-07-02 16:39
Lyme Bay has been added to the list of production areas currently closed for commercial harvesting due to the presence of marine biotoxins above safe limits

2026-07-01 09:00
Biotoxin and phytoplankton sampling plans for England and Wales updated for July

2026-06-26 13:56
Live updates has been updated to remove Porthallow from the list of closed production areas (now open)

2026-06-25 15:33
Mevagissey Bay and St. Austell Bay have been removed from the closed production area list.