Evaluation of Bacteriological Safety for the Shellfish Growing Waters in Taean Area, Korea

The seawater in the Taean area was surveyed to evaluate the conditions of the bay and compliance with the bacteriological criteria for a designated area for shellfish production for export. Samples of seawater were collected monthly at 34 sampling stations established in the survey area from January 2002 to December 2004. The bacterial density in the coastal area close to a pollution source located to the northeast of the survey area was higher than in the open sea to the west. The bacteriological counts in the water did not change with 16.5mm of rainfall, but increased abruptly after 65.4mm of rainfall. The total coliform and fecal coliform most probable numbers (MPNs) of 1,224 seawater samples in the survey area were