The Surface Waters (Shellfish) (Classification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

regulations 3, 4 and 7

SCHEDULE 1 Criteria for classification of waters as shellfish waters

No in Annex 1 to 79/923/EEC	Parameter	Units	Requirements to be satisfied	Reference methods of analysis	Minimum sampling and measuring frequency
1.	pH	pH unit	≥7 and ≤9	— electrometry Measured in situ at the time of sampling	Quarterly
3.	Coloration (after filtration)	mg Pt/1	A discharge affecting shell- fish waters must not cause the colour of the waters after filtration to deviate by more than 10 mg Pt/1 from the colour of waters not so affected.	— Filter through a 0.45 um membrane Photometric method, using the platinum/cobalt scale	Quarterly
4.	Suspended solids	mg/1	A discharge affecting shell- fish waters must not cause the suspended solids content of the water to exceed by more than 30% the content of waters not so affected	Filtration through a 0.45 μm membrane, drying at 105°C and weighing — Centrifuging (for at least 5 minutes, with mean acceleration 2,800 to 3,200g), drying at 105°C and weighing	Quarterly
5.	Salinity	‰	≤40‰ — A discharge affecting shellfish waters must not cause their salinity to exceed by more than 10% the salinity of waters not so affected	Conductivity	Monthly
6.	Dissolved oxygen	saturation %	≥70% (average value) Should an individual measurement indicate a value lower than 70%, measurements shall be repeated An individual measurement may not indicate a value of less than 60% unless there are no harmful consequences for the development of shellfish colonies	— Winkler’s method — Electrochemical method	Monthly, with a minimum of 1 sample represent- ative of low oxygen conditions on the day of sampling. However, where major daily variations are suspected, a minimum of 2 samples in 1 day shall be taken
7.	Petroleum hydrocarbons		Hydrocarbons must not be present in the shellfish water in such quantities as to: produce a visible film on the surface of the water and/ or a deposit on the shellfish have harmful effects on shellfish	Visual examination	Quarterly
8.	Organohalo- genated substances		The concentration of each substance in the shellfish waters or in shellfish flesh must not reach or exceed a level which has harmful effects on the shellfish and their larvae	Gas chromatography after extraction with suitable solvents and purification	Half-yearly
9.	Metals Silver Ag Arsenic As Cadmium Cd Chromium Cr Copper Cu Mercury Hg Nickel Ni Lead Pb Zinc Zn	mg/1	The concentration of each substance in the shellfish waters or in the shellfish flesh must not exceed a level which gives rise to harmful effects on the shellfish and their larvae The synergic effects of these metals must be taken into consideration	Spectrometry of atomic absorption preceded, where appropriate, by concentration and/or extraction	Half-yearly
11.	Substances affecting the taste of shellfish		Concentration should be lower than that which is liable to impair the taste of the shellfish	Examination of the shellfish by tasting where the presence of one of these substances is presumed

regulations 5, 6 and 7

SCHEDULE 2 Guideline values in relation to the quality of shellfish waters

No in Annex 1 to 79/923/EEC	Parameter	Units	Guideline values and comments	Reference methods of analysis	Minimum sampling and measuring frequency
2.	Temperature	°C	A discharge affecting shellfish waters must not cause the temperature of the water to exceed by more than 2°C the temperature of waters not so affected	— Thermometry Measured in situ at the time of sampling	Quarterly
5.	Salinity	‰	12 to 38‰	Conductivity	Monthly
6.	Dissolved oxygen	saturation %	≥80%	Winkler’s method Electrochemical method	Monthly, with a minimum of 1 sample representative of low oxygen conditions on the day of sampling. However, where major daily variations are suspected, a minimum of 2 samples in 1 day shall be taken
8.	Organohalo- genated substances		The concentration of each substance in shellfish flesh must be so limited that in contributes, in accordance with Article 1 of Directive 79/923/EEC, to the high quality of shellfish products	Gas chromatography after extraction with suitable solvents and purification	Half-yearly
9.	Metals Silver Ag Arsenic As Cadmium Cd Chromium Cr Copper Cu Mercury Hg Nickel Ni Lead Pb Zinc Zn	mg/1	The concentration of each substance in shellfish flesh must be so limited that it contributes in accordance with Article 1 of Directive 79/923/EEC, to the high quality of shellfish products	Spectrometry of atomic absorption preceded, where appropriate, by concentration and/or extraction	Half-yearly
10.	Faecal coliforms		≤300 in the shellfish flesh and intervalvular liquid	Method of dilution with fermentation in liquid substrates in at least 3 tubes in 3 dilutions. Subculturing of the positive tubes on a confirmation medium. Count according to MPN (most probable number). Incubation temperature 44° ± 0.5°C	Quarterly