13th Session of the Intergovernmemntal Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) established under the auspices of IOC of UNESCO. Over that period IPHAB has provided the international framework for regional and global coordination and prioritization of capacity development, research and strategic initiatives on HABs. The IPHAB met for its 13th session at UNESCO Participants in the 13th IPHAB session. IOC, Paris, 3-5 May 2017 Headquarters, Paris, from 3-5 May 2017. The Panel reviewed the ships with SCOR, ICES, PICES, Exciting new elements of HAB research many activities and results completed IAEA and ISSHA. The Panel was have benefited immensely from the recduring 2015-2016 and noted the conalso briefed on the IOC Capacity ognition by IPHAB of the importance tinued broad engagement of the science Development Strategy; the UN of linkages to ocean observational sysand management community in activiSustainable Development Goals tems and the effects of global change. ties. The major achievements presented 14; and the OBIS database by IOC The Panel made decisions for priorat IPHAB included: staff. ities 2018-2019 for international HAB (i) the formal establishment of The IOC-coordinated HAB Pro- activities to be implemented by the IOC GlobalHAB, appointment of sci- gramme is the only global intergovern- UNESCO and IPHAB partners. The Decience steering committee mem- mental effort to understand, manage sions concern the following: bers, and finalizing of the Science and mitigate the harmful effects of algal (i) IOC/HAB Training and Capacity and Implementation Plan; blooms, and has therefore maintained a Building Programme; (ii) development of an IOC-IAEA- critical leadership role via IPHAB. Par- (ii) Regional HAB Programme DevelFAO-WHO inter-agency strategy ticularly noteworthy is the progess on opment, continuation with revised for research and monitoring on inter-sessional IPHAB activities, includTerms of Reference of the IPHAB; Ciguatera; ing efforts by Task Teams to maintain an (iii) Task Team on the development of (iii) implementation of sixteen updated taxonomic list of HAB taxa and a Global HAB Status Report; training courses and training- revisions to the nomenclature, identi- (iv) Task Team on a Global Strategy on through-research projects; fication and structures of novel phycoCiguatera for Improved Research (iv) continued development of the toxins, and associated toxicological efand Management; (v) Task Team IPHAB-IODE Harmful Algae In- fects. Combined with IPHAB-sponsored on Harmful Algae and Desalinaformation System including initiatives on mapping biogeographical tion of Seawater; HAEDAT; information on HAB events, these da- (vi) Task Team on Biotoxin Monitor(v) continued publication of the IOC ta-bases are essential to sustain both ing, Management and Regulations; Harmful Algae News; research and monitoring strategies. (vii) Task Team on Algal Taxonomy, and (vi) progress on the preparation of The Panel has shown flexibility and (viii) Task Team on Harmful Algae and the first Global HAB Status Re- adaptive capacity since its inception, Fish Kills. port; modifying its functions and tasks to (vii) progress on the preparation of a address emerging global priorities for Dr. Gires Usup (Malaysia) was reelected Guidance Manual on HABs and ocean research and monitoring as de- as Chair and Dr. Allan Cembella (GermaDesalination; fined by IOC. The IPHAB has aligned its ny) was reelected as Vice-Chair. (viii) development of regional activi- priorities to address the four IOC overties within ANCA, FANSA, HANA, arching themes: Contact: hab.ioc@unesco.org. More inWESTPAC-HAB and WESTPAC- i. Healthy Ocean Ecosystems; formation and updates on activities at TMO; ii. Early Warning for Ocean Hazards; http://hab.ioc-unesco.org (ix) the work of the ICES-IOC iii. Climate Change Adaptation and MitWGHABD and ICES-IOC-IMO igation and WGBOSV; and iv. Enhanced Knowledge of Emerging (x) the continued vital partnerScience. HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 57 / 2017 13 Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 57 - June 2017 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Unusual fish killing blooms of Tripos furca in Van Phong Bay, South Viet Nam In the beginning of November 2016, a phytoplankton bloom was observed by fisherman in Van Phong Bay, Viet Nam Fig. 2. Chl-a distribution in coastal waters of Khanh Hoa province during 14th October to 25th November 2016 (sources: MODIS-Aqua Level 2 images, NASA). Clear skies were observed on 14th October, and 11th, 13th, 15th, 22nd, 25th November, while the other days were very cloudy. High chl-a concentrati vung-sim-2461816/ 3. Nguyen VN et al 2014. In: Kim HG et al (eds) Harmful Algae 2012. Proc15th ICHA (ISSHA) pp 48-51 4. Hodgkiss IJ & Lu S 2004. In: Asian Pacific Phycology in the 21st Century: Prospects and Challenges, pp 215-229 5. Machida M et al 1999. Nippon Suisan Gakk 65: 755756 6. Mat Mortality of Chilean farmed salmon in wellboats in transit through a Karenia bloom Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of the stations sampled near the Gulf of Penas, Chile, between 31st January and 1st February 2017. A mass mortality of around 170,000 salmon, worth US$ 390,000, was recorded on wellbo Fig. 3. Density (cells L-1) of Karenia spp. in water samples of the vicinity of the Gulf of Penas. nels, composed mainly of diatoms. Most Karenia (ex Gymnodinum) species produce toxins that can kill fish and other marine organisms when they bloom. In addition to toxicity, some Karenia blooms cause A bloom of Amphidinium carterae in Ria de Aveiro, Portugal Fig. 1. Ria de Aveiro and oyster farm location. Amphydinium carterae is a benthic unarmored cosmopolitan dinoflagellate classed as a fish killer due to its capacity to produce hemolytic compounds such as amphidinols [1] and polyhydroxyl car Harmful dinoflagellates in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria, West Africa Fig. 1. Coastal map of Nigeria showing the study area. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are worldwide phenomena [1]. The increasing spread, frequency and severity of harmful algal incidents have been well documented and have led to the ble are toxic harmful dinoflagellates that produce a suite of toxins, including Alexandrium catenella and Gymnodinium catenatum (saxitoxins), Dinophysis caudata (okadaic acid congeners), and benthic HAB (Ostreopsis cf ovata, palytoxins, and Prorocentrum lima, okadaic acid). These toxins can directly Satellite detection of Trichodesmium blooms in the Southwestern Pacific and the Tonga trench [2]. This area coincides with high nitrogen fixation rates [3]. There are numerous correlations between the observations of surface mats in the ocean and high reflectance In the oceans, a large portion of t Fig. 2a) MODIS image of the Trichodesmium bloom with white and green mats between Vanuatu Islands and New Caledonia in December 2014; with Landsat 8 zooms on mats superimposed and the microscopic observation of Trichodesmium colonies in surface samples at the SPOT station visited with R/V Alis; b) P Plankton Planet in New Zealand Plankton Planet is the first citizen science programme designed for biological oceanography. It is a co-operation between scientists and volunteers from the sailing community based on mass sequencing of DNA barcodes from the extracts of plankton communities collected w Molluscan Shellfish Safety Conference in Ireland Over 230 international delegates from 27 countries participated in the 11th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety (ICMSS) from Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 May 2017 at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Convened by Irelands Marin 13th Session of the Intergovernmemntal Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB) established under the auspices of IOC of UNESCO. Over that period IPHAB has provided the international framework for region Forthcoming events will be held at the 10 Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (10 IPFC ), 2-6 October 2017, Tahiti, French Polynesia (https:// ipfc10.criobe.pf/). Organizers: Mireille Chinain, Susanna Piovano, Jean Turquet, Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui-Bottein (mchinain@ilm.pf; susanna.piovano@usp.ac.fj; Turque Scientific Committee Topics: Advances in the analysis of existing and emerging marine and freshwater toxins. Ann Abraham, FDA, US Mass spectrometry, molecular methods, toxicity assays, bioassays and screening tests. Arjen Gerssen, WUR, NL Structural characterization of new potential toxins. Ja the 18th international conference on harmful algae from ecosystems to socio-ecosystems SAVE the date! FATMA GUELLATI/UPMC-UNIV BADJI MOKHTAR Minyvel Environnement/Phenomer Nicolas Chomérat/IFREmer Véronique Séchet/IFREmer Olivier BARBAROUX/IFREmer Stéphane LESBATS/IFREmer Olivier DUG Ted Smayda in Memoriam 10 April 2017 This year the HAB and research community lost another giant intellect. Professor Theodore J. Smayda, (Ted as he preferred to be called) passed away after a period of illness. A graduate of the Braarud School of phytoplankton ecology of Oslo, Norway, Ted held uniq IV INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM, June 4-8, Washington DC Organized by ICES, PICES, IOC and NOAA Fisheries The 4th International Symposium will bring together experts from around the world to better understand climate impacts on ocean ecosystems and how to respond. The Symposium will Highlight the latest