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 wellboats in transit between the Magallanes and Los Lagos regions (Southern Chile) on January 26th, 2017. Investigations into the environmental causes were pursued after technical and operational failures (e.g. oxygen depletion) were ruled out. From the onset, harmful algal blooms (HAB) were suspected as the most probable cause as the area is known for previous large-scale blooms including non-toxic diatoms belonging to the genera Chaetoceros and Rhizosolenia, toxic phytoflagellates, such as Heterosigma akashiwo and Pseudochattonella verruculosa, and toxic dinoflagellates (Alexandrium and Karenia). Blooms of different geographical scales, including some significant events , have been recorded in the affected area [1, 2]. The occurrence of toxin producing HABs has been related to anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) and weather conditions such as 4 those associated with El Niño [2]. Environmental variables, including SST, salinity and pH were measured in 10 sampling stations between the Gulf of Penas and Moraleda Channel (Fig. 1) between January 31st and February 2nd, 2017. Synoptic overviews of SST, chlorophyll-a concentration and oxygen saturation distributions were obtained from the analysis of MODIS/AQUA satellite images. Surface water samples were fixed with acidic Lugols solution and analyzed according to the Utermöhl technique for identification and enumeration of phytoplankton. Satellite images of the Gulf of Penas, Taitao Peninsula and Pulluche Channel showed the presence of sub-Antarctic water masses (ASAA) characterized by salinity values of 34-36, and temperatures between 11.5 and 13.6 C (Fig. 2), whereas the southern part of the Gulf of Penas (station 13) and the stations at Moraleda Channel showed modified sub-Antarctic water masses (ASAAM), which were colder and with lower (2930) salinities due to runoff from glaciers and rivers [3]. The seawater pH varied between values close to 7 in the Gulf of Penas to around 8 in the remaining stations (Fig. 2). Satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentrations were close to 5 μg L-1, and oxygen saturation was 44.4%. The lower pH and oxygen in waters from the Gulf of Penas may have been related to coastal upwelling in the area. Phytoplankton in the water samples was diverse, with diatoms and dinoflagellates being the most abundant taxonomic groups. A marked difference was observed between stations 13 to 20 (Gulf of Penas and Taitao Peninsula) and stations 21 to 22 (Pulluche and Moraleda Channels). The first group of stations presented a phytoplankton community typical of oceanic waters, with dominance of unarmoured dinoflagellates of the genus Karenia which represented 21 to 91% of the total abundance. The second group of stations (21 to 23) showed a phytoplankton community, characteristic of the fjords and chan- Fig. 2. Sea Surface temperature (C), pH and salinity (PSU) across the sampled stations in the vicinity of the Gulf of Penas. HARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 57 / 2017 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