OFFSHORE SUSPENSION RELAYING TO REDUCE LEVELS OF VIBRIO-VULNIFICUS INOYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA-VIRGINICA)

Oysters naturally contaminated with 10(3) to 10(4) most probable numbe rs (MPN) of Vibrio vulnificus per g were relayed to offshore waters (s alinity, 30 to 34 ppt), where they were suspended in racks at a depth of 7.6 m, V. vulnificus counts in oysters were reduced to <10 MPN/g wi thin 7 to 17 days in five of the six studies, At the end of the studie s (17 to 49 days), V. vulnificus levels were reduced further and range d from a mean of 0.23 to 2.6 MPN/g, Oyster mortalities during relaying were <6%, The reduction of V. vulnificus in relayed oysters is associ ated with exposure to high-salinity environments essentially devoid of V. vulnificus. Offshore suspension relaying may be a method that indu stry can employ to reduce V., vulnificus levels in raw Gulf Coast oyst ers.