Florida Administrative Code › 5 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES › 5L - Division of Aquaculture › Chapter 5L-1 - THE COMPREHENSIVE SHELLFISH CONTROL CODE › Section 5L-1.015 - Depuration and Wet Storage Facility Operations

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) All plans for construction or remodeling
				of depuration or wet storage facilities shall be reviewed and approved by the
				Department. Approval is contigent upon the plan meeting the criteria in Rules
				5L-1.005 and
				5L-1.010, F.A.C.
(2) Operating procedures for conducting
				depuration or wet storage shall be reviewed and approved by the Department.
				Approval is contigent upon the plan meeting the criteria in Rules
				5L-1.005 and
				5L-1.010, F.A.C.
(3) The Department shall be immediately
				notified in writing of any changes in equipment or operating
				procedures.
(4) Source of shellfish
				- Shellfish shall be accepted for treatment at a depuration or wet storage
				facility only from areas specified by the Department pursuant to Rule
				5L-1.009, F.A.C. The facility
				supervisor or designated representative shall inspect all containers of
				untreated shellfish upon arrival at the depuration or wet storage facility to
				verify that they contain the species and quantity stated on the receiving
				record.
(5) Shellfish containers -
				Shellfish shall be accepted for depuration or wet storage treatment and
				released after treatment in clean containers only. All containers shall be
				constructed of non-absorbent and rust-proof material, and kept clean and free
				from foreign matter. Burlap bags or similar absorbent material shall not be
				used in the treatment tanks, nor for the transportation of shellfish from the
				facility.
(6) Culling - All
				untreated shellfish, prior to, or upon arrival at the facility, shall be
				thoroughly inspected and culled by personnel under the supervision of the
				facility supervisor or designated representative. All dead shellfish or
				shellfish in broken or cracked shells shall be destroyed. The facility
				supervisor or designated representative shall be responsible for the culling
				and the removal and disposal of dead shellfish or shellfish with broken or
				cracked shells both before and after treatment.
(7) Washing shellfish - All shellfish shall
				be thoroughly washed prior to and after treatment. Immersion of shellfish for
				washing purposes is prohibited.
(8)
				Containers used in treatment process - All containers used in the treatment
				process shall be easily cleanable, designed for easy handling, and made of
				impervious material. Containers shall be of such design to allow water to flow
				freely over the shellfish in the treatment tanks. Containers shall not be
				filled beyond the level which will allow free circulation of water during the
				treatment process. The height of the shellfish in the containers shall be
				stacked to allow sufficient cleansing. Containers shall be stacked to provide
				clearance between shellstock and tank bottom as to allow free circulation of
				water. Containers used for treatment purposes shall not be used for any other
				purpose, and no containers or other equipment shall be placed in the treatment
				tanks.
(9) Shellfish treatment -
				All shellfish, upon receipt at the facility, shall be promptly treated or
				placed in controlled storage. Shellfish from an approved or conditionally
				approved harvest area which are to undergo wet storage shall be segregated from
				shellfish destined for depuration from a restricted or conditional restricted
				harvest area. Shellfish for wet storage shall be treated by a Department
				approved scheduled wet storage process (SWSP). Shellfish from restricted or
				conditionally restricted waters shall undergo a Department approved scheduled
				depuration process (SDP).
(10)
				Washing treatment tanks - All systems must be cleaned and sanitized before any
				lot of shellfish is placed into the treatment tanks. After each 24 hours that
				the shellfish are in the depuration treatment tanks, the seawater in the tanks
				shall be drained out and the shellfish hosed down thoroughly. Feces,
				pseudo-feces, and any other waste matter must be flushed out of the tank.
				Immediately after hosing, the tanks shall again be filled with treated
				seawater. Treatment tanks employing some form of refrigeration shall be drained
				and thoroughly washed after each depuration period or lot of shellfish
				depurated.
(11) Treatment tank
				design specifications - water flow must be maintained at a minimum of one
				gallon per minute per bushel of shellfish or the flow rate recommended by the
				disinfection systems manufacturer to attain the flow and volume necessary for
				maximum disinfection. System piping shall include backflow and back siphonage
				protective devices and be constructed for easy cleaning either directly or
				through gasket or compression joints.
(12) Ultraviolet (UV) Unit:
(a) Any UV unit used for the purification of
				water to be used in the treatment process shall provide the required treatment
				to non-detectable coliform bacteria level for the duration of storage. The unit
				shall be designed to deliver, at peak load the flow rate recommended by the
				disinfection systems manufactures to attain the flow and volume necessary for
				maximum disinfection.
(b) Cautions
				and maintenance.
1. UV tubes shall either be
				checked for intensity on a monthly basis or the hours the tubes are used. The
				bulbs shall be replaced when they reach a point of 60% efficiency or upon the
				manufacturer's maintenance, which ever occurs first. A log of intensity or
				hours shall be kept and an orderly numbering procedure for UV units and bulbs
				established. A record of UV tube replacement shall be maintained.
2. UV tubes and reflectors shall be kept
				cleaned. Cleaning shall be done with a clean damp cloth or sponge. A cleaning
				schedule shall be recorded on the sanitation record.
3. Signs stating "Ultraviolet Light Danger to
				Eyes - Do Not Look at Bulbs Without Eye Protection" shall be displayed in full
				view of personnel and authorized visitors. Eye, head, and skin protection,
				especially for the face and hands, shall be provided for personnel monitoring
				the bulbs.
4. An automatic shutoff
				switch shall be provided to break the electric circuit, thus shutting off the
				current to the UV bulb when the lid of the UV unit is raised.
5. In depuration facilities a tamper-proof
				hour meter shall be installed in line with all UV units to measure continuity
				of operation as well as to measure bulb life. A log which documents meter
				readings taken at the beginning and end of each depuration cycle shall be
				maintained for each UV unit.