Last News on the 17 th ICHA The local and international organizing committees are busily planning the 17 th International Conference on Harmful Algae (17 th ICHA), in Florianopolis, Bra- zil from 9 th -14 th October 2016. For the first time in history, Latin America will host the conference and is looking for- ward to welcoming approximately 450 participants from many different coun- tries from around the world. REGULAR registration is open un- til August 31 st . From September 1 st , LATE onsite registrations will be accept- ed at the ISSHA rates of 1800 Brazilian Real R$ (non-ISSHA member, 2000R$) and 1000 R$ for students (non-ISSHA students, 1100 R$). So its not too late to make your travel plans to attend the conference so that you can reconnect with your colleagues and hear many exciting talks about HABs around the world! A new student speed networking workshop is scheduled for 13:00-16:00 on Sunday, October 9 at the Intercity Hotel (the conference hotel). This is an excellent opportunity for young scien- tists to meet and exchange ideas prior to the main conference. The network- ing workshop will foster an interactive environment between small groups of advanced scientists and students in hopes of creating short, high impact ex- changes. There is still space, so sign up today! The ICHA 2016 photo competition is still accepting photos until 30 Sep- tember 2016 from registered partici- pants. Photos can be submitted in the categories of microscopy, harmful algae and aquaculture, freshwater harmful al- gae, tropical harmful algae, harmful al- gae scientists at work and play. Please submit your best photos! Several very reasonably-prices tours are planned for Wednesday, Oc- tober 12, including a Florianopolis city Fig. 1. A beautiful handmade tapestry for the ISSHA Auction 2016 walk, a trip to the stunning views and beaches of Lagoa de Conceição, an is- land adventure, an oyster experience, a sailing trip, a trekking experience and an Oktoberfest party. Sign up lists for these tours will be available at the con- ference. Voting for ISSHA Executive and Council Members will take place from October 1 to October 12 midnight Bra- zilian time. Voting for the 2020 ICHA venue will be open until October 13 midnight Brazilian time. Bids will be published on the ISSHA website and the candidate countries will make their presentations at the ISSHA General As- sembly lunchtime meeting on Thursday October 13. All ISSHA members, includ- ing those who cannot attend the ICHA 2016 in Florianópolis are encouraged to vote ON LINE. And last but not least, dont forget our biannual auction. If you have items to donate or know of a business who might be interested in support- ing our society, please contact Esther Garcés at esthericm.csic.es. Or just bring your items with you and drop them off at the ISSHA booth at the con- ference. Remember that the auction is one of the funding sources for ISSHA that allows many deserving students to attend our international conferences. This is a very worthy cause! For more information about the conference program and travel details, please see www.icha2016.com. Vera Trainer, ISSHA President Important Deadlines to vote on line (www.issha.org) Voting for ISSHA Executive and Council Members: October 12 midnight Brazilian time Voting for the 2020 ICHA venue: October 13 midnight Brazilian time HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 54 / 2016 15 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 54 - August 2016 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Exceptional climate anomalies and north wards expansion of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning outbreaks in Southern Chile Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), in partic- ular recurrent events of the P 6. Díaz PA et al. 2014. Harmful Algae 40: 9-22 7. Molinet C et al 2003. Rev Chil Hist Nat 76: 681-698 Authors Cristina Hernández, Laboratorio Salud Pública, Seremi de Salud Región de Los Lagos, Crucero 1915, Puerto Montt, Chile Fig. 2. Evolution of the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) from 1950 to 2016. e Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms in southern Cuba during anomalous hot dry seasons (average depth, 1.2 m) estu- ary fed by the Arimao River. This wetland is on the south- west of the semi-enclosed Bay of Cienfuegos (southern Cuba) and connected to it by a single channel. The area is subject to two periods (April/May 2005 and January 2015) 8-9. During the 2015, a bloom of C. polykrikoides was also recorded in channels of a small marina from Hava- na, north-western Cuba, in September, without apparent damage to marine life 10. Acknowledgements Fig. 2. C. polykrikoides (A) and dead blue crabs (C Is Ciguatera moving south in Australia? Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is well- known in tropical regions around the world, including the Pacific. The illness occurs through the consumption of fish that have accumulated naturally occur- ring ciguatoxins (CTXs) produced by the dinoflagellate genus Ga ic CTX) 8. The illnesses occurred be- tween February and April each year in NSW (Fig 1), coinciding with the peak Spanish mackerel fishing season. There is an apparent southern expansion of the geographic range of CFP along the east coast of Australia (Fig. 1). The catch locations of the fish from t A survey of BHAB assemblages utilizing the artificial substrate method in Rawa Island, Malaysia Benthic dinoflagellates are marine tychoplanktonic inhabitants on the natural substrates of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical coastal wa- ters. These dinoflagellates are associ- ated with their pref Annual variability of Prorocentrum lima and abiotic factors in Chengue Bay, T ayrona National Park, Colombian Caribbean Fig. 1. Study area where samples of Thalassia testudinum were collected. Chengue Bay (black star), Tayrona National Park, Colombian Caribbean Prorocentrum lima is a cosmopolitan s del Mar -CECIMAR (sede Caribe) y Pro- grama de Postgrados en Biología - Línea Biología Marina ( contribution 430 ). Thanks also to the Banco Español de Algas de Gran Canaria, in particular to Mr. E. Soler Onis, and to the Jardin Bo- tánico Canario Viera y Clavijo for sup- port with the SEM, and to t Training Workshop on the Culturing and Identification of Benthic Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates A Training Workshop on the Culturing and Identification of Benthic Harmful Marine Dinoflagellates was held in the State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollu- tion (SKLMP), City University of Hong Kong between 1 Fig. 1. Participants in the workshop at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, 14-21 June, 2016. Fig. 2. Demonstrating basic techniques in BHAB culturing (Po Teen Lim, Chung-Kuang Lu, Chui Pin Leaw and the participants). HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 54 / 2016 11 Regional Training Course on Identifica tion of Harmful Algal Bloom Species in the ASEAN Region, Singapore, 18 th -22 nd July 2016 Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can cause major environmental disturbances, severe economic loss to industries, fisheries and tourism, and also pose significant health risks Participants were encouraged to orga- nize local or regional training courses to train more experts on harmful algae identification. The IOC WESTPAC-HAB working group shall assist local groups in training their local community by sending suitable trainers to the training workshop and by providing te ASIMUTH special issue of Harmful Algae The European Commission (EC) 7th Framework Programme (FP7) project Applied Simulations and Integrated Modelling for the Understanding of Toxic and Harmful Algal Blooms (ASI- MUTH) ran from 2010-2013. It involved 11 partners from Portu- gal, Spain, France, Irela Last News on the 17 th ICHA The local and international organizing committees are busily planning the 17 th International Conference on Harmful Algae (17 th ICHA), in Florianopolis, Bra- zil from 9 th -14 th October 2016. For the first time in history, Latin America will host the conference and is l Forthcoming events Seafood Safety: New Findings & Innovation Challenges Brussels, 25-26 January 2017 Deadline for registration: 15 January 2017 (early bird 25 November 2016). Abstract submission deadline: 15 October 2016. www.ecsafeseafoodconference.com 11th International Conference on Modern and Fo