Need to conduct more research on seafood poisoning stressed

The incidents of seafood poisoning can also be sensitive from the point of law and order, along with that of ecological reasons, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shantaraju. He was speaking as the chief guest at the Indo-Swedish workshop on ‘Human Health and Well Being at Risk: Microbial Blooms, Climate Change and Urbanisation in Mangalore’, organised by Nitte University at Nitte Education International at Pumpwell on Friday.

The DCP referred to the incident near Ullal recently were hundreds of people fell ill after consuming a red snapper, locally recognised as Chemberi which was poisoned with marine toxins. There is a lot of anxiety associated with such incidents, he said. Though urbanisation is inevitable, its after-effects can lead to ecological disasters, such as seafood poisoning, he said and felt for a need to conduct more and more research on seafood poisoning.

University of Gothernburg Professor Anna Godhe said the outbreak of seafood poisoning incidents are increasing as the cities are expanding. This has to do with the climate change. When one consumes the seafood which is affected by marine toxins, the toxin substances accumulate in the muscles and will create health issues, she said.

Nitte University Director (Research and Development) Dr Indrani Karunasagar said the team at Nitte University has collaborated with the team led by Dr Anna Godhe of University of Gothenburg, Sweden, since 20 years towards research on climate change induced harmful microbial blooms along the Indian West Coast.

The potential impacts on consumers and producers of marine products with respect to the climate change and related issues, is being assessed, she said. Nitte University Registrar B S Moodithaya presided over the programme. Dr Per Knutsson of the University of Gothenburg and Dr Lucy Turner of Plymouth University, United Kingdom, were among those present on the occasion.