Shellfish Sanitation Laboratory
Starting in 1987, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) began to provide laboratory support to the Mississippi Shellfish Sanitation Program. The GCRL Microbiology Laboratory still maintains this important service to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR). Under guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, each state that harvests live shellfish must continuously monitor the growing waters for bacterial levels. GCRL Microbiology Laboratory personnel analyze sea water samples and oyster meats for fecal coliforms and total aerobic bacterial count. The GCRL Microbiology Lab is the only laboratory in Mississippi currently performing these tests (Methods used are those approved by the U.S. FDA). All data are reported to DMR for management decisions for the harvesting of this resource. (GCRL provides analytical support ONLY; decisions on opening or closing of harvest areas is the responsibility of the DMR).
