Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program

The boundaries of a wild harvest or an aquaculture area are established by considering the natural topography, sources of natural contamination, industrial developments or human habitation, and potential for additional growing or harvesting sites within the area. This information is determined through:

• Recreational use of the area ADFG shellfish inventory studies;
• State of Alaska Aquatic Farm Applications; or
• Information provided to DEC by individuals seeking to classify areas for harvest.

DEC must determine the potential impacts on water quality in the area, seasonal restrictions if any, location of water quality sampling stations, and sampling periods. This is accomplished by conducting a shoreline survey, evaluating the following information, and preparing a sanitary survey report which summarizes this information:

• Proposed boundaries and topography
• Presence of anadromous streams, wild animals, or resident and migrating bird populations
• Tides, rainfall, winds and river discharges
• Location of human habitation or industrial developments
• Fisheries
• Recreational use of the area
• Species to be grown or harvested
• Harvest periods and methods must encompass wet and dry weather, low and high tides and periods of harvest.

Proposed growing or harvesting area waters must meet the fecal coliform standards in the NSSP. So, water samples from growing areas must be tested. The sampling period must encompass wet and dry weather, low and high tides and periods of harvest.

The number of sampling stations will depend upon the size of the area, and each actual or potential source of contamination. Generally, they are located at:

• The growing/harvesting area
• Each actual or potential source of contamination
• The boundary lines

The number of samples per station depends on human habitation at the growing/harvesting area:

• Areas with no human habitation will require a total of fifteen (15) samples per station over the sampling period.
• Areas with human habitation will require a total of thirty (30) samples per station over the sampling period.

Results from all sampling stations over the sampling period must have both a geometric mean not to exceed 14 fecal coliforms/100 ml, and no more that 10% of the samples can have greater than 28 fecal coliforms/100ml.

Water quality samples can be taken by an operator through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The person requesting the growing or harvest area classification bears the cost of getting the area classified.

Area Classification

The Sanitary Survey Report will classify the area as one of the following:

Approved

Conditionally Approved

Restricted

Conditionally Restricted

Prohibited

Applies to all areas not classified; all areas adjacent to sewage treatment plants; and areas with unacceptable fecal coliform or biotoxin levels which would cause the shellfish to be adulterated. An area with an unacceptable biotoxin level could be approved under a biotoxin monitoring program.

Operational Status Assignment

Operational Status will be designated as one of the following, and may change during a harvest period: All areas must be reclassified every year.

Open

Shellfish may be harvested subject to its classification

Closed

Result of sewage spill, biotoxin levels or emergency

Reopened

Emergency abated, fecal coliforms, biotoxin levels or other contaminants returned to acceptable levels

Remote

Lack of human habitation, not impacted by actual or potential pollution source

Seasonally Remote

Area is classified as approved but a closure period is defined. One sample required before reopening.

To reclassify an area, continuing site assessments must be performed, and water samples must be collected from each sample station. Water quality reports are prepared to document that classification criteria are being met.

All fees will be prorated between all growers utilizing a given area. Initial Classification carries a fee of $500. The assessment/sampling frequency for annual re-approval of approved areas is listed below. Each sampling carries a fee of $150.

• Approved areas require five visits a year.
• Approved Remote areas require two visits a year.
• Approved Seasonally Remote areas require two visits a year, one sample required before re-opening.