FOOD SECURITY IS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES TO HAVE ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT, SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS THAT MEET THEIR DIETARY NEEDS AND THEIR PREFERENCES. SHELLFISH CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH DIRECT CONSUMPTION, TRADE AND EXPORTS. THREATS TO FISH/SHELLFISH PRODUCTION, A MAJOR SOURCE OF DIETARY PROTEIN, COME FROM HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. RED TIDE IS A HARMFUL ALGAE, THAT PRODUCES BREVETOXINS WHICH ACCUMULATE IN SHELLFISH POSING RISK TO CONSUMER HEALTH. TOXINS IN SHELLFISH TISSUE CAN REMAIN LONG AFTER THE BLOOM HAS DECLINED. SOCIO-ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS OF RED TIDE BLOOMS ARE CRIPPLING SHELLFISH FARMERS, PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION, AND RETAILING, MAKING THE U.S. LESS COMPETITIVE ON A DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL SCALE, LIMITING PRODUCT AVAILABILITY. WITH ECONOMIC AND FOOD SAFETY RISKS, THERE IS A PROFOUND NEED TO DEVELOP MORE ANALYTICAL TOOLS, LOWERING THE HUMAN HEALTH RISK AND IMPROVING THE BOTTOM LINE OF FARMERS. IN CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION WITHFLORIDA SHELLFISH GROWERS, THE FLORIDA SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION, AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, THIS PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES A CRITICAL INDUSTRY NEED WHICH IS THE GENERATION OF A RELIABLE RAPID RED TIDE TOXIN BIOSENSOR FOR MONITORING SHELLFISH FOR POTENTIAL CLOSURES AND SUBSEQUENT RE-OPENINGS DURING AND AFTER RED TIDE BLOOMS,THERE IS A DEMONSTRATED DIRECT NEED FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR PROVIDING RAPID AND ACCURATE IN-SITU RED TIDE TOXIN TESTING THAT CAN BE USED BY SHELLFISH COMMUNITIES, CONNECTING ALL SEGMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY, FROM GROWING AND HARVESTING TO PROCESSING AND MARKETING.THIS STUDY EXPLORES TECHNOLOGY THAT PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE U.S. SEAFOOD PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING, THEREBY STRENGTHENING EXISTING MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHELLFISH COMMUNITIES. BY DEVELOPING CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF THE SHELLFISH FARMERS IN RED TIDE IMPACTED REGIONS, THESE ECONOMICALLY VALUABLE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE CHANCE TO REGAIN, AND POTENTIALLY EXCEED, THEIR PREVIOUS PROMINENCE IN SHELLFISH PRODUCTION.