4 °C - the National Sea Grant Library

io Vulnificus: Past, Present, and Future Control Strategies
Mark L. Collins, MPA
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
would like to ank Dr. Otwell for inviting me to participate in the Tropical and
Sciences and Technology Society of the Americas 20th Annual
Conference. As way of introduction, I am Mark Collins, Environmental Program
Administrator, in the Bureau of Marine Resources Regulation and Development, Florida
Department of Environmental Protection. The Bureau’s activities include classification of
the states shellfish waters, inspection of shellfish aud crab processing plants withiu the
state, assessment and enhancement activities for the states shellfish resources, and
aquaculture lease activities.
Most of my talk this afternoon will focus on past, present, and future control strategies to
control illnesses caused by the marine bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.
Since 1925, the present shellfish sanitation program has operated as a cooperative
program between state and local health agencies, and the U.S. Public Health Service.
Individual state agencies &s&&d growing waters, inspected processing plants, and
patrolled closed growing waters. The U.S. Public Health Service provided technical
support and evaluated individual state programs. In 1982, state agencies formed the
Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) in order to provide input into changes for
the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)(FDA Compliance Policy Guide 7158.04,
1988).