A 20-year comparative study of domoic acid depuration in the king scallop, Pecten maximus, across French provinces

Abstract

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) can lead to fishery closures when toxin levels in commercial species exceed regulatory thresholds. Domoic acid (DA), the neurotoxin causing Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), is particularly persistent in king scallops (Pecten maximus), a commercially valuable bivalve in France. This species is known for its slow depuration rate compared to other pectinids. This slow depuration rate allows for the calculation of DA dynamics, with the potential to better manage fishery openings in autumn, especially following spring contamination. This study used 20 years of data from the French phycotoxin in-situ monitoring program (REPHYTOX) to characterize decontamination episodes along the French Atlantic and English Channel coastlines. Depuration rates were estimated for 104 events; however, no correlation was found between depuration rate and province, time period, initial DA concentration or environmental conditions. From data, a median depuration rate was estimated and applied in a widely-used exponential decay model. In response to professionals’ needs, we developed a user-friendly predictive tool that estimates DA concentrations in king scallops based upon sampling in spring or summer. We recommend performing DA quantification in scallops whenever DA is detected in other shellfish at the same location, and running the predictive model to anticipate DA content at the opening of the fishery season in autumn. This tool will help fishery managers to anticipate bans, to avoid unnecessary license purchases, or to shift to alternative species. Although developed using French data, the methodology is adaptable to other regions with appropriate adjustments to reflect local ecological, regulatory, and fishery contexts.