4 °C - the National Sea Grant Library

isregard include the education of over 700 health professionals
i ng 1994 through funding by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Project. This
reject will continue in 1995 by researchers at the University of Florida and
versity (Personal Communication Tamplin, 1995). $500,900 was
rovi e National Marine Fisheries Service in 1994 for use by the U.S. Food and
gA ‘n&ration in an effort to educate high risk consumers about their risk of raw
oyster consumption. FDA with the help of the ISSC is developing messages for
~s~b~~o~ (ISSC Vibrio vuhrificus Information Sheet, 1995).
A balanced approach to this problem will call for regulators, industry, and the
consumers of shellfish to each take increased responsibilities to find a solution.
Regulators will have to implement and enforce regulat&ts which are balanced, which
provide for an safer raw shellfish product, yet does not prevent through regtdatory
burden the industry operation. Industry must increase its efforts to provide safe products
to the marketplace, to develop innovative practices which provide for improved shellfish
products, and strive to educate their customers. Consumers must accept responsibility
for their own health conditions and make informed choices about the risks they take,
realizing that eating is a risky business but that not eating is fatal.