The DEPURATOX project – Decontamination of bivalve molluscs contaminated with marine biotoxins during the purification process (MAR-01.03.01-FEAMP-0049) – aims to develop a new methodology/ chemical product(s) capable of inactivating marine biotoxins in live bivalves (or reducing their levels to values below the legal limits) during the purification process. The focus of this project is the marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). The project’s target species are mussels, cockles and clams.

This project is developed by researchers from the University of Algarve (UAlg) and the Algarve Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), in collaboration with Cooperativa de Viveiristas da Ria Formosa, a center for the purification and expedition of bivalve molluscs. The main beneficiaries of the knowledge developed within the project will be purification centers and bivalve mollusc catchers.