The organization was established for the purpose of exercising control over all sanitation aspects of growing, harvesting, shucking, packing, and interstate transportation of molluscan shellfish. The NSSP and the ISSC operate together as a vital adjunct to Federal seafood safety programs. The key to ensuring that molluscan shellfish do not carry pathogens from water pollution is the proper classification and monitoring of shellfish growing waters. FDA is responsible for helping to design and review the actions states take to classify their waters. States are required to take measures to ensure that illegal harvesting does not occur from closed waters and to certify that shippers operate in a sanitary manner.
Dinoflagellates are unicellular organisms which exhibit a great diversity of form.
They have flagella that permit them to move in the water. The largest organism of this class may be as large as 2 mm in diameter, and the smallest is invisible to the naked eye. Though not large by human standards, these creatures can have a big impact on the environment around them. Many are photosynthetic, manufacturing their own food using the energy from sunlight, and providing a food source for other organisms. Others are able to feed on organic particles and even on other algae cells.