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 the Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales de Colombia -IDEM for providing rainfall data. Fig. 3. Monthly changes in cell density of P. lima on Thalassia testudinum in Chengue Bay, Colombian Caribbean, during 2014 References 1. Hallegraeff GM et al 2004. Manual on harmful marine microalgae. UNESCO, Paris, 793 pp 2. Rodríguez-Ramírez A et al 2004. Bol Invest Mar Cost 33: 223-244 3. Okolodkov YB et al 2007. Aquat Microb Ecol 47: 223-237 4. Martínez-Cruz ME Et al 2015. Cymbella 3, 9 pp Authors Natalia Arbelaez-Merizalde, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras INVE- MAR, Santa Marta, Colombia & Instituto de Estudios de Ciencias del Mar CECIMAR, Uni- versidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Caribe, Santa Marta, Colombia Jose Ernesto Mancera-Pineda, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Bogotá D.C., Colombia Email: natalia.arbelaezinvemar.org.co Fig. 4. Time series of rainfall (monthly average and standard deviation) from1980 to 2014 (bars), and total monthly rainfall during 2014 (black line), in the Magdalena region (airport station-IDEAM) Maximal cell density of P. lima was found at salinities near 35, tempera- ture above 29 C, high N:P ratio (>16), nitrite 2.4 μg L -1 , nitrate, ammonia and phosphate concentrations below 2.7 μg L -1 , and high concentrations of total suspended solids. These environmental features are common when rainfall is low (70-110 mm monthly rainfall). Rainfall did not follow the usual pattern during 2014 with values well below the historic mean (Fig. 4). These results suggest that P. lima population is likely to benefit during periods of low rain, small decline in salinity, high water temperature and lower inorganic nutri- ents in the environment. For future risk management plans it will be important to consider toxin HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 54 / 2016 analyses to establish the risk involved with the presence of this species in the Colombian Caribbean. These results will help involve the public health sec- tor, improve the diagnostic tools and reduce negative consequences of poten- tially toxic dinoflagellates in an import- ant natural and tourist area. Acknowledgements This study was part of a technical co- operation project (RLA7/020) between the Instituto de Investigaciones Mari- nas y Costeras Jose Benito Vives de An- dreis - INVEMAR in Colombia (CRTB- 1153) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We are grateful to the Universidad Nacional de Colom- bia, Instituto de Estudios de Ciencias 9 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