Technical Compilation of Biotoxins Monitoring in ASEAN Region 2009-2012

Abstract

The wholesomeness of fish for food safety and food quality has always been a primary concern for many in the fisheries sector in the region. Fish has always been a critical source of protein for the people in the Southeast Asia region. Sadly, we have seen an increasing number of human intoxications from the consumption of contaminated shellfish and fish in the region and around the world.

In view of the fact that marine biotoxins pose a significant and increasing threat to human health in the region, monitoring of seafood for toxicity is henceforth, an important step in managing marine biotoxins risk.

For this reason, the Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in Singapore co-ordinated the Japanese Trust Fund II Project on “Chemical and Drug Residues in Fish and Fish Products in Southeast Asia – Biotoxins Monitoring in ASEAN”, and worked in partnership with the ASEAN member countries. It is with the hope that this project would help to develop methodologies on biotoxins analyses through human resource training, obtain an understanding of levels of biotoxins occurrences and incidences in fish and fishery products in ASEAN and enhance the regional capability in marine biotoxins testing.

This Technical Compilation, which is the final output of the project, would be beneficial to policy makers, technologists and scientists as well as regulatory personnel in the fisheries sector. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the fisheries officers in the Member Countries and the officers of MFRD for their hard work and great effort in making this Technical Compilation possible.

In addition, I would like to thank the Government of Japan for funding this project under the Japanese Trust Fund Program. I am sure this compilation would be a useful guide for the fisheries trade and industry in ensuring the success of providing safe and quality seafood for the Southeast Asian region.